Black spots under fire

By LILLY O’GORMAN
MOBILE phone black spots were on the agenda for Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley’s visit to the eastern Dandenong Ranges on Wednesday 11 July.
Representatives from towns including Cockatoo, Emerald and Gembrook will meet with Mr Lapsley on 11 July to discuss concerns about mobile coverage, Neighbourhood Safer Places, and fire readiness planning and preparation.
Earlier this year the Mail reported that Gembrook Township Committee president David Nickell said at least half of Gembrook didn’t have mobile phone coverage, including some areas close to town.
“(The Bushfire Royal Commission showed) one of the key things that went wrong for Kinglake and Marysville was communication,” Mr Nickell said.
“And we’re saying that unless mobile delivery channels are improved, (a situation like Black Saturday) will happen to us too.
“Our current Neighbourhood Safer Place is a car park and immediately adjacent to that is a community centre. We believe the community centre should be considered to provide shelter for residents.”
Mr Nickell said support from Emergency Services Minister Peter Ryan encouraged residents to pursue the matter.
“And we’re looking at how we can progress fire safety for the eastern Dandenong Ranges,” he said.
On 29 June Mr Ryan called on the Federal Government to urgently improve mobile phone black spots in bushfire and flood prone regional areas.
“Mobile telecommunications play a critical role in the provision of warnings and information during emergencies,” he aid.
Mr Ryan said the State Government was leading the charge to develop a national emergency warning system ahead of summer, with “world-first technology” to be available to Telstra customers from 1 December.
“Currently, because of a lack of action by the Commonwealth, the emergency alert system will not benefit those communities where there are mobile phone black spots,” he said.
“Victoria is undertaking comprehensive work to determine the extent of locations at risk and the needs of those communities.
“The onus is now on the Commonwealth to partner with Victoria to move this work forward.”
But a spokesman for federal Emergency Management Minister Nicola Roxon said that on 29 June all emergency ministers discussed the issue and agreed that it was a responsibility for telecommunications carriers – including Mr Ryan.
“The Commonwealth has already provided more than $26 million to help states improve their warning capabilities,” he said.
“There is nothing to stop the Victorian Government from investing funds itself if it wants to.
“Member for La Trobe Laura Smyth has been active in lobbying telecommunications companies directly to try and help communities in the hills get new towers.”