Funded as part of the federal government’s Mobile Black Spot Program, the Telstra tower reaches 122 dwellings in the Golspie area, a number Curraweela resident Frank Startari believes is far too low.

Under the program, mobile base stations deliver 3G as well as 4GX mobile broadband service. The 40-metre tower is located south of The Levels and Golspie Road intersection.

Mr Startari maintains Member for Hume Angus Taylor, who announced the initiative two years ago along with Telstra, did not follow through with the program’s objectives. 

“The benefit will be shared by many of us because coverage will extend along a number of roads and highway sections,” Mr Taylor said in 2015. 

Acknowledging not all areas would be covered by the program, the concerned resident of 24-years believed the Goulburn to Oberon Road, closest to the Golspie tower, should have received priority, and coverage. 

He said the road has a high number of accidents, was subject to floods and snow left travellers stranded.

On Friday, about 12km from the tower, residents responded to a burning car along Abercrombie Road and were forced to make a call from a landline to contact emergency services. 

Chifley Rural Fire Services operational officer Brett Taylor said the driver was lucky to gain access to a landline for the call.

“They had an option, it was 122 residents, a lot of whom have access to the Crookwell tower or coverage to thousands of travellers who use the road,” Mr Startari said. 

“It’s a very low-powered tower in the wrong location. It was the easiest and cheapest.”

Southern NSW Telstra area general manager Chris Taylor said further mobile base stations in Tarlo, Porters Retreat and Paling Yards were expected to come and would provide needed coverage to parts of the Goulburn to Oberon Road.

“That tower is performing at its optimum, we wouldn’t design a tower that wouldn’t perform at the optimum,” Mr Taylor said in reference to the Golspie tower.

“That tower design meets the coverage objective. It needs to integrate in the existing network so it doesn’t interfere with other towers such as the Crookwell tower in the vicinity.”

He said the tower at Golspie could not have covered the extra 10km to Curraweela, as some have argued. 

“The terrain in these areas is a big limiting factor,” he said. “That area around the Golspie terrain has ridges between Crookwell and Oberon; the multiple valleys of those ridges are not practical.”

The criteria for the first two rounds of this project explore the number of premises covered, third party contributions and weigh up preferences for proposed sites. 

He said the Member for Hume Angus Taylor stated preferences such as Golspie during the initial stages.

“I recognise 100 per cent of the coverage may not be reached,” he said. “There will be broader coverage within those local designated communities. As a part of doing that, parts of those roads will benefit.”

MP Angus Taylor said he was listening to the Curraweela community who raised valid concerns about the lack of coverage on the Goulburn to Oberon road.

“Further mobile black spot towers are planned for Tarlo, Porters Retreat and Paling Yards. I’ve asked Telstra to ensure these facilities are located and equipped for maximum signal spread,” he said.

“I’ve been fighting for improved mobile and internet coverage across my electorate since I became the local member. We’ve made big steps forward, but I know there is more work to do.”

But for Mr Startari this is not enough.

“The issue for us is we can’t turn someone away when they need assistance,” he said. “Individuals are at risk.”

Mr Startari is encouraging residents to contact Mr Taylor’s office and MP Pru Goward to share their connectivity concerns.