State Govt, Telstra funds for telecommunications resilience during power outages in Goldfields and Wheatbelt

The State Government and Telstra will spend almost $3 million to make telecommunications infrastructure more resilient during extreme weather events and power outages across the Goldfields and Wheatbelt. Regional Development Minister Don Punch will on Monday announce the $2.9 million commitment — comprised of $1.9 million of State funding and $1 million from Telstra — for the WA Telstra Automatic Transfer Unit Pilot Deployment Program. The program will help secure critical mobile coverage for emergency services and communities during extended power outages. The State Government explained automatic transfer units enabled a community responder to transfer power to a portable generator supply when the mains power failed, enabling mobile and other important communication services to continue. The Government’s announcement comes after a supercell thunderstorm across the Wheatbelt and Goldfields caused widespread disruptions to the region’s telecommunications network — and downed power transmission towers, leading to a catastrophic multi-day power outage in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The Government said this event highlighted the need for robust backup systems to enhance regional telecommunications infrastructure, ensuring that essential services and communication remained operational during future emergencies. The program will see the roll out of 80 ATUs at key locations across the Wheatbelt and Western Goldfields, with deployment to start by the end of the year. Where needed, portable generators will also be sourced for communities as part of the program. The locations for the ATUs are being finalised in consultation with Telstra, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance Development Commissions, and local government authorities. They will be placed at priority locations affected both by the supercell storm and historical extended power outage locations, as well as sites that protect the core network upstream of transmission and mobile base stations at the end of line. Telstra recently installed an ATU in Mukinbudin, and is working with the Shire of Mukinbudin and DFES to test the community response protocols to support the rollout of units in other areas. Mr Punch said being able to communicate quickly and effectively during an emergency was critical. “The Cook Government is committed to continuing to build the resilience and capability of our regional telecommunications infrastructure,” he said. “The rollout of automatic transfer units across the Wheatbelt and Goldfields will help secure essential mobile and communication services to support first responders and regional communities during network outages.”