Bathurst has received funding under the NSW Government’s Mobile Black Spots Program (MBSP) that will see Telstra towers erected  at Rockley and Trunkey Creek this year while Optus is expected to begin work on a tower at Napoleon Reef in early 2018.

A report to council’s monthly meeting by acting environmental, planning and building services director Richard Denyer said all three locations had been identified through consultation with the local community, businesses and telecommunications providers.

“The MBSP provides the opportunity for telecommunication providers to construct towers outside of major city areas and fringes that would not otherwise be commercially viable,” Mr Denyer wrote.

“… The NSW Government will shortly announce Round 3 of the MBSP, and council intends to once again assist telecommunication providers in attracting additional mobile phone towers to the Bathurst Regional LGA.”

Council, in partnership with Regional Development Australia Central West, has now identified four new priority areas within the region to pursue black spot funding and four more secondary sites.

The priority sites are located at Wattle Flat, Sunny Corner, Rock Forest and Mount Rankin while the secondary sites are at Limekilns, Clear Creek, Wiagdon and Triangle Flat.

Those recommendations will be incorporated into council’s submission for funding under Round 3 of the MBSP.