Significant portions of the Blue Derby Trails remain without mobile coverage, despite previous assurances by Telstra that new towers had been built in the area.
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Telstra announced in November that they had built mobile phone towers in Weldborough, however the town, and parts of the adjacent Blue Tier bike trail, still do not have any mobile reception.
Telstra area general manager Michael Patterson apologised for the telco’s announcement and said the information released at the time was incorrect.
“We know how important mobile coverage is to the community and we are working to improve mobile coverage between Derby and St Helens,” he said.
“The first stage will provide localised 4GX coverage in Weldborough, and is expected to be on-air before March using small cell technology.”
The black spot areas pose a great danger for mountain bikers, according to Mad MTB operations manager Richard Cuskelly.
“It's kind of ridiculous – there's so many people running down the [Blue] Tier trails there and there's no phone coverage,” Mr Cuskelly said.
“I literally had to send someone else down the trail to find someone the other day because we had no communication.
“You go in the wrong spot [alone] and people aren't going to find you until you smell.”
Weldborough Hotel manager Dale Brown, meanwhile, said Telstra “really has to do something”.
“One of the residents has to go on top of the Blue Tier every day to check his messages to see if he has any work,” he said.
“We thought we were moving here to have better reception, and its been worse.
“There’s absolutely nothing.”
Stefan Boscia
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
