Transmitter Work To Put Boolarra In The Picture

Boolarra’s notorious television black spot will soon be a thing of the past

By Latrobe City - 3rd February 2003 - Back to News

Boolarra’s notorious television black spot will soon be a thing of the past, with the completed installation of new transmitter equipment expected by the end of the month.

Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Tony Hanning, said reception of SBS and the commercial television stations had been severely limited or was non-existent for some Boolarra residents, with local topography interfering with the reception of a clear signal.

"The fact that these problems are now being overcome with the installation of new local transmission equipment, will provide affected residents with the same programming that most other citizens are able to take for granted," Cr Hanning said.

"The reach of the ABC transmission will also be enhanced with signals to be transmitted on a 180 degree plane instead of 90 degrees with the existing equipment."

In June 2000 the Federal Government launched a Television Black Spots Program and allocated funds to fix between 200 and 250 analog black spot television reception areas across the country. It announced that communities of 100 or more households located in black spot areas receiving no television or only one television service would be given highest funding priority.

Council publicised details of the Government program and received a number enquiries from residents experiencing poor television reception particularly in the Boolarra area, and from a local antenna technician who highlighted the problem.

Council then submitted an expression of interest to the Federal Government’s Department of Communications Information Technology and the Arts for the funding of four new TV services - SBS, Prime, Ten and Win, and the replacement of obsolete equipment which transmitted ABC. Working with a local antenna technician, Council obtained the signal strength and topographic data to allow the Department to identify a solution to the reception problems.

Council also agreed to fund the ongoing operations and maintenance of the transmitter.

"We were very pleased that the Federal Government considered our request and agreed to a local transmitter. The community has eagerly sought an upgrade to their service, and this is now being delivered, Cr Hanning said.

"It is expected that there will be a disruption to ABC reception at times during the installation and commissioning of equipment, but we have been advised by the installation technician that every effort will be made to keep any disruption as short as possible," Cr Hanning added.

A Householder Fact Sheet will be distributed widely in the area.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com