The Hon Michelle Rowland MP
Minister for Communications

The Hon Kristy McBain MP
Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
Member for Eden-Monaro

Rosewood in New South Wales will benefit from improved mobile coverage following the completion of a new macro cell base station funded under the Australian Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program.

This base station, jointly funded by the Australian Government and Optus under Round 5 of the program, will provide new and improved 3G and 4G mobile coverage to Rosewood and the surrounding area.

The base station will provide over 97 square kilometres of new and improved coverage including to more than 170 local premises.

In addition, it will provide coverage to over 76 kilometres of local and surrounding roads, including sections of the Broadleaf Park Road, Tumbarumba Road, Wagga Road, Coppabella, and Albury Roads. The local Railway Station, and the Golf Club will also benefit from this solution.

This solution will deliver safety and social benefits to those living in, working in and travelling through this popular tourist area. This solution will also enhance protections during emergencies and natural disasters.

The Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program has generated a total investment of more than $875 million to date towards new mobile infrastructure, including co-contributions from the Commonwealth, mobile industry, state, territory and local governments and other third parties.

The new mobile base station is one of 1079 base stations in total now delivered under the Mobile Black Spot Program.

The Australian Government remains committed to improving connectivity in rural and regional communities through its Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, announced in the October 2022-23 Federal Budget. The Plan forms a significant part of the $2.2 billion being invested by the Albanese Government toward improving regional connectivity.

On 20 March 2023, under the Better Connectivity Plan, a combined grant opportunity up to $160 million opened for applications, bringing together the Mobile Black Spot Program and the Regional Connectivity Program in two streams: a $110 million Regional Connectivity (Round 3) stream; and a $50 million Mobile Black Spot (Round 7) stream.

Applications to this combined grant opportunity are open until Wednesday 12 July 2023 (5:00pm AEST). 

For more information on the Government’s Better Connectivity Plan please visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/bcp.

Additional information on the Mobile Black Spot Program can be found at www.infrastructure.gov.au/mbsp.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:

“The Albanese Government’s Better Connectivity Plan will make a meaningful difference to people who live and work in regional and rural Australia, including in the electorate of Eden-Monaro.

“The Mobile Black Spot Program is improving mobile coverage and competition across regional and remote Australia by addressing gaps in mobile coverage for people living, working and travelling in these regions.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, and Member for Eden-Monaro, the Hon Kristy McBain MP:

“We know how important reliable connectivity is for operating businesses, accessing education services and keeping in touch with family and friends – which is why the completion of this base station at Rosewood is great news for our community.

“Across Eden-Monaro we have funded 38 base stations under the Mobile Black Spot Program, four projects under the Regional Connectivity Program and 37 projects under the Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters Program.

“This is all part of our commitment to improve mobile coverage issues, which will provide valuable safety, economic and social benefits across Eden-Monaro.”