Lithgow City Council has supported a push by Kanimbla Valley residents to expand mobile coverage provided by the proposed Telstra and Optus towers, which will be erected in 2020.
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Council will add its voice to residents in writing to Visionstream Pty Ltd to ask for provision of coverage from Telstra at Table Rock Road, Marsden Swamp Road, Cullenbenbong Road, Glen Chee Road, Gangbenang Road and other areas in the Kanimbla Valley.
Resident Jason Green, speaking on behalf of the Kanimbla Valley Mobile Phone Black Spot Action Group, said
"The communities of Megalong Valley, Kanimbla Valley, Gangbenang and the surrounding areas have been waiting for their mobile phone towers to be switched on," he said.
"There's no doubt this tower will save lives.
"As the terrain in the local area, the landscape, it's impossible to get coverage in all areas. Over the years we've had community members experience situations like heart attacks, serious car accidents, funnel web bites, carbon monoxide poisoning for a family, bushfires...
"Even our emergency services have expressed concerns for the area, especially deep in the valley."
Cr Maree Statham said, at council's meeting on September 23, the provision of reception in the area would prevent "tragedies and near tragedies".
"It's not a luxury, it's a necessity, it's 2019," she said.
"These residents down there, and I've visited the area on several occasions, it's difficult to get reception."
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