Far-west Queensland gets connected

Towns in Barcoo and Diamantina, Queensland’s westernmost shires, are now connected to the Telstra network thanks to 600 kilometres of new fibre-optic cable.

The project joins the towns Stonehenge, Jundah, Windorah, Birdsville and Bedourie to the network.

Designed and built by Telstra, the link has been funded by the federal and Queensland governments, as well as the two local councils.

“At times I didn’t think I would ever see the day when someone could use a mobile phone in Windorah except for taking photos and checking the time — well today it has happened,” Mayor of Barcoo Shire Council Bruce Scott said.

Scott emphasised the “opportunities that the switching on of modern 4G mobile technology can do for the social and economic future for this and the other Barcoo Shire communities.”

“For more than a decade, these communities have sought the support from successive governments for better telecommunication services. My Government has answered their call,” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

“My Government knows the importance of telecommunications for these communities, particularly in terms of health, education and emergency services as for business and industry.”

The Palaszczuk government has allocated $15 million in its 2016–17 Budget to improve mobile coverage in Queensland.

“This commitment builds on the state government’s $10 million contribution to round one of the Commonwealth’s Mobile Black Spot Program,” the Premier said.

“I am so sure that without this mobile telephony and the other high bandwidth services soon to be commissioned, our future would have looked very different and very bleak to say the least,” Scott said.

“We are so grateful for the opportunities in innovation, education, economic growth, enhanced health services, social inclusion, start-ups, investment in businesses — the list is long and we can now get on with making our communities sustainable, growing in capacity and strength in capability.”

Image courtesy Diamantina Shire Council.