Rick Wilson calls on State Government to ‘sign off’ on Torndirrup National Park mobile coverage funding

O’Connor MP Rick Wilson has called on the WA Government to finalise a funding agreement for new mobile communications infrastructure in Torndirrup National Park. In May 2021, Telstra announced a $1.1 million 4G mobile antenna would be attached to the top of the decommissioned Cave Point Lighthouse to provide phone coverage to The Gap and Salmon Holes. It was also expected to reach more than 30km out to the ocean so it could be used by rescue teams in an emergency. At the time, Telstra WA regional manager Boyd Brown said the tower could be ready for use within a year. Funding for the new tower came after a 2018 coronial inquest into the deaths of two anglers at Salmon Holes which recommended a mobile tower be built on Eclipse Island to improve communication for emergency services. The Federal Government pledged $474,892 towards the project under the Regional Connectivity Program. The WA Government committed nearly $300,000 towards the project. However Mr Wilson said the State Government was “yet to fulfill its part of the funding package” and should “sign off” on the funding ahead of the Easter salmon fishing rush. “My inquiries (last) week into Labor’s funding log-jam have revealed the State intends to sign the necessary paper work soon,” he said. “But with lives at risk, and Easter fast approaching, every day of delay could be deadly. “With the stroke of a pen, the State could cut through its red tape, enabling Telstra to get on with the business of building its base station. “Telstra has provided the Commonwealth with an indicative site-on-air date of December 2022 for the base station, but that deadline will not be met if the State does not put pen to paper.” But Albany MP Rebecca Stephens said Telstra had not used the standard State Government agreement. “The most recent draft agreement from Telstra was provided to the State just last week,” she said. “The State is now progressing this agreement as quickly as possible.” Ms Stephens said telecommunications was a Federal responsibility and the State Government had “stepped into the space to fill the gaps”. “Rather than carping from the sidelines, Rick Wilson should be grateful the WA Government is doing his job for him,” she said. A Telstra spokesman said the organisation hoped the agreement would be finalised in the coming weeks. “Since the initial government announcement of the proposed sites in 2021, contract negotiations between Telstra, the Federal Government and the WA Government relating to funding and conditions have been ongoing,” he said. “Once the agreement is signed, we will look to finalise the detailed design for these WA projects and begin making plans for future construction as quickly as possible.”