❓ Hon Rick Mazza asks about the timeline and actions taken to improve communications capabilities in the Esperance region following a government commitment to review the situation. The Minister provides a timeline for the review and outlines ongoing initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 1357Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
COMMUNICATIONS
CAPABILITIES — ESPERANCE
1357. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the 12 November 2020 Farm
Weekly article titled ''Govt agrees with most fire recommendations''
in which the minister said that the state government would seek to undertake a review
of communications capabilities in the Esperance region and investigate flexible
and mobile solutions that provide digital radio communications and enhanced
wi-fi and phone coverage. He added that the state government recognised that
current technology was limited in its capacity to service growing demand.
(1) When will the review into
Esperance's communications capabilities commence?
(2) How long will the review last?
(3) In the
meantime, what is the government doing to improve communications capabilities
in the Esperance region?
CAPABILITIES — ESPERANCE
1357. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the 12 November 2020 Farm
Weekly article titled ''Govt agrees with most fire recommendations''
in which the minister said that the state government would seek to undertake a review
of communications capabilities in the Esperance region and investigate flexible
and mobile solutions that provide digital radio communications and enhanced
wi-fi and phone coverage. He added that the state government recognised that
current technology was limited in its capacity to service growing demand.
(1) When will the review into
Esperance's communications capabilities commence?
(2) How long will the review last?
(3) In the
meantime, what is the government doing to improve communications capabilities
in the Esperance region?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The review
and identification for an additional radio repeater site in the Esperance north
east region is currently underway.
(2) The review is scheduled for completion in June
2021, with works to commence in the 2021–22 financial year.
(3) The state
government is enhancing emergency communications networks across the state. In
partnership with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,
an additional radio repeater was installed
at Peak Charles in June 2020 to improve radio communications in the northern
part of the Esperance local government area. The Department of Fire and
Emergency Services is testing upgrading mobile satellite capabilities to
improve communications in remote areas.
The
commonwealth government has primary responsibility for telecommunications. The
state government has raised with the commonwealth the need for improved
telecommunications in WA. DFES is currently working with NBN and the
Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters program to install satellite-based wi-fi services at 21
community evacuation centres, local government buildings and emergency
services buildings in high-risk isolated communities by December 2020, with a further
55 locations across the state to receive satellite services in 2021.
some notice of the question.
(1) The review
and identification for an additional radio repeater site in the Esperance north
east region is currently underway.
(2) The review is scheduled for completion in June
2021, with works to commence in the 2021–22 financial year.
(3) The state
government is enhancing emergency communications networks across the state. In
partnership with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,
an additional radio repeater was installed
at Peak Charles in June 2020 to improve radio communications in the northern
part of the Esperance local government area. The Department of Fire and
Emergency Services is testing upgrading mobile satellite capabilities to
improve communications in remote areas.
The
commonwealth government has primary responsibility for telecommunications. The
state government has raised with the commonwealth the need for improved
telecommunications in WA. DFES is currently working with NBN and the
Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters program to install satellite-based wi-fi services at 21
community evacuation centres, local government buildings and emergency
services buildings in high-risk isolated communities by December 2020, with a further
55 locations across the state to receive satellite services in 2021.
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