Expansion of mobile coverage to improve safety at 18 Western Australian regional surf beaches

Latest News

Expansion of mobile coverage to improve safety at 18 Western Australian regional surf beaches

May 10, 2023

Aquatics / Environment / Recreation / Safety / Technology /

Expanded mobile coverage to improve safety at Western Australia’s regional surf beaches is being made possible with the state government having awarded Powertec Telecommunications a grant to commission Cel-Fi repeaters at 18 sites located from the Kimberley to the Great Southern.

The new equipment will be installed at a number of popular beaches including Cheynes Beach (Albany), Lighthouse Bay (Exmouth), Willie Creek (Broome), Salmon Beach (Windy Harbour) and Wilbinga Beach (Guilderton).

The Western Australian Government committed $1 million under the Regional Telecommunications Project to improve communication in an emergency, as well as expand mobile coverage for regional communities and businesses.

The locations were chosen in consultation with Surfing WA, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's Shark Response Unit and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

The upgrades follow the successful installation of a small cell mobile base station at Twilight Beach in Esperance in late 2020.

WA Fisheries and Regional Development Minister Don Punch noted that expanding mobile coverage at some of WA’s most remote beach “will vastly improve connectivity across regional WA and potentially save lives. In the case of an emergency, the ability to communicate quickly and effectively is vital. Investing in upgrades to telecommunications infrastructure not only enables our regional communities to thrive, in this case it is also helps to keep Western Australians safe at the beach."

Installation is expected to commence in the second half of this year.

Image. Cheynes Beach (Albany)

6th March 2023 - Life Saving Victoria reminds beach and river-goers of accidental entry risk

3rd February 2023 - Summer beach safety boosted in Western Australia with more than 1500 BEN signs

23rd January 2023 - Float to Survive message demonstrated in ocean rip at Sydney’s Manly Beach

19th December 2022 - Surfers Rescue 24/7 Program skills up Victorian surfers to protect beaches this summer

25th November 2022 - Study recommends need to improve beach safety signage

31st October 2022 - Expanded mobile connectivity for remote Western Australian surf beaches

12th October 2022 - Perth beach precinct included in Western Australia’s Heritage Register

6th May 2022 - New lifesaving technology installed at unpatrolled North Kingscliff beach

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.