- Round 2 of the WA Surf Beaches Mobile Coverage Grants Program announced
- $2 million funding from Cook Labor Government towards better mobile coverage to improve the safety of 35regional beaches
Regional Development Minister Don Punch announced $2 million in funding today from the Cook Government to further boost mobile coverage at popular remote surf beaches across the State and improve the safety of beach users.
The second round of the WA Surf Beaches Mobile Coverage Grants Program will target 35beaches stretching around the coastline from the Kimberley to Esperance.
The program provides better mobile coverage to support local beachgoers, regional communities, emergency responders and visitors.
The inaugural round of this program was announced last year and granted $1.1 million to deliver mobile repeaters at 20 popular surf beaches. Installation at these beaches is underway.
Further priority sites with poor or no mobile coverage have been identified by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in consultation with Surfing WA, Regional Development Commissions, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and local governments.
Round 2 of the program is now open for service providers to develop proposals to deliver fit-for-purpose and innovative digital solutions at each of the priority sites.
Further details are available from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Developmentwebsite.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
"The Surf Beaches Mobile Coverage Grants Program is an important program for regional Western Australia, supporting the delivery of telecommunications infrastructure to beaches with no or poor mobile coverage.
"These beaches are heavily frequented by the local community and visitors for swimming, surfing, camping, fishing, picnics, snorkelling and other recreational activities.
"The plan to provide coverage across 35 identified beaches under this new funding round, in addition to 20 from the first round, will vastly improve the ability to communicate in the case of an emergency and willenable more people to enjoy the beach and ocean with confidence.
"Many of the selected locations are already equipped with Beach Emergency Number signs, which combined with improved mobile coverage will allow for faster and more effective communication during an incident."
