Mobile coverage proceeds at Patonga

Federal Member for Robertson, Mr Jim Lloyd, has said that installation of mobile phone coverage facilities for Patonga is planned to go ahead as scheduled.

It would not be affected by the new Deployment of Radiocommunications Infrastructure Code that places community consultation and information provision obligations on mobile phone carriers.

"Hopefully, installation will be underway in the next few months.

"Nevertheless, the timetable for installation is ultimately Telstra's decision according to its business plans," Mr Lloyd said.

Mr Lloyd said that Telstra had already met its community consultation obligations with respect to the Patonga installation.

"At a meeting between Telstra and Patonga community members some three weeks ago, all but one of its participants voted for the installation proposal.

"The meeting was well attended.

"Eventually unanimous support was secured among interested Patonga community members."

Mr Lloyd said that Telstra had addressed the visual and health aspects of the relay area planned for Patonga.

"The Code means that mobile phone carriers have an obligation to improve notification and community consultation procedures, design and operate facilities with the objective of minimising electromagnetic emissions, and provide free information relating to electromagnetic radiation and electromagnetic emission reports on request.

"The Code covers how residents can have their say when mobile phone base stations are to be installed in the area and what they can do if they have a complaint about a mobile phone carrier's compliance with the code," Mr Lloyd said.

"Carriers may face fines of up to $250,000 if they fail to comply with its requirements," he said.

The Code is available online at www.aca.gov.au.

Further information about it is available at www.acif.org.au and www.amta.org.au/mcf.

Con Orfanos, May 7