Announced on Thursday, the $10.41 million Hume upgrades will see coverage given to areas such as Bannister, Big Hill, Bigga, Breadalbane, Dalton, Laggan, Windellama and more.

In the Goulburn district new towers will be located on the Abercrombie Road, Boro Creek Valley (Mayfield), Dalton, Golspie, Tarlo and Windellama.

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor said it would increase coverage along a number of local roads including:

- Crookwell Road – between Goulburn and Crookwell,

- Goulburn Oberon Road – between Goulburn, Taralga and Oberon,

- Goulburn Road – between Binda and Trunkey Creek,

- Oallen Ford Road – between Nerriga and Tarago,

- Range Road – between Bannister and Mummel, and

- Sandy Point Road – the intersection of Sandy Point Rd and Oallen Ford Rd.

“This is a great result, amongst the highest number of any electorate in Australia. We have lobbied long and hard for this – and the Government has listened,” Mr Taylor said.

“Towers will be located for maximum signal spread and the benefit will be shared by many of us because coverage will extend along a number of roads and highways.

“In total, 74 of the 139 mobile black spots nominated in Hume will receive coverage via handheld phones or via an external antenna on the roof or car (or both). The total funding package to Hume is $10.41 million, including $2.76 million from the Federal Government under the Mobile Black Spot Program.”

Mr Taylor said the new base station locations would mean coverage to the following areas identified as black spots: Bannister, Big Hill, Bigga, Breadalbane, Bungonia, Bungonia National Park, Canyonleigh, Dalton, Golspie, Goulburn, Grabine, Greenwich Park, Laggan, Lower Boro, Mayfield, Middle Arm, Mummel, Oallen, Peelwood, Roslyn, Taralga, Tarlo, Towrang, and Windellama and Wyangala.

The first base stations would be built in late 2015 and the full program would be rolled out over three years.

“We will be dramatically improving mobile phone coverage across a vast area of the electorate,” Mr Taylor said.

He said in addition to the $100 million in Commonwealth funding for Round One of the national program, a further $60 million has been announced for Round Two of the Mobile Black Spot Program.

This, along with Telstra’s commitment to build 200 new 4G mini base stations, will offer further opportunities to meet unmet demand and provide coverage to more locations around regional and remote Australia.

“For those areas which missed out, I will be making a strong case that they are funded in Round Two,” Mr Taylor said.

NSW Minister for Regional Development John Barilaro said the combined Commonwealth and NSW Government investment is the greatest increase in mobile network coverage to metropolitan, regional and remote communities delivered by a single public funding programme in the history of Australian mobile communications.

“The NSW Government’s investment of $24 million, along with $28 million of Federal Government funding and a contribution from the networks, will result in a total investment of $92 million,” Mr Barilaro said.

Member for Goulburn Pru Goward also welcomed the funding, saying communities including Binalong, Boro Creek Valley, Dalton, Golspie, Tarlo, Windellama and those along the Abecrombie Road would benefit from additional mobile network towers, to eliminate some of state’s worst black spots.

“Today’s announcement delivers a key election commitment for residents who deserve a first class mobile coverage, which is critical for people living outside major cities who need access to emergency services,” Ms Goward said.

The investment will improve coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and locations prone to experiencing natural disasters, with funding to be rolled out over a three-year period.

A map of locations is available here: www.communications.gov.au /mobile_coverage