Telstra has listened to the Noorat community and will install a new mobile tower on Mt Noorat.
Telstra received funding from the Federal and State governments in 2022 for a new macro mobile base station and transmission connectivity to provide better 4G/5G mobile voice and data coverage for residents and visitors to the area.
An initial plan to build the tower within the township met with strong objections from the community concerned that the lower site would result in an inferior service with signals potentially blocked by the mount.
An opportunity has since emerged to install mobile equipment on privately owned infrastructure on the Mount.
Mayor Kate Makin said Council appreciated Telstra listening to the residents and responding to Council's preferred approach for the new tower.
"We also thank Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells, Member for Wannon Dan Tehan and Senator Raff Ciccone for their assistance."
"The expectation was that locating the tower on top of the Mount was to service areas currently with poor or no service, especially on the northern side of the Mount.
"Mobile phone black spots are a major issue across the Shire, with impacts on emergency management, tourism, agricultural innovation and liveability.
"This has been one of Council's top priorities for many years and we will continue to work with service providers and Government to filling in those gaps."
When the project was first announced, Councillor Geraldine Conheady, a Noorat resident said communication failures during the 2018 bushfires underlined just how vital the upgrade is for the safety of people and property in the area.
"As business, farming and education technologies are increasingly dependent on reliable connections, Council will continue to advocate for efficient 21st century services for all our Shire communities."
Telstra told Council it was working towards completion before the end of the 2026 financial year, subject to any unexpected delays.
