Locals and visitors to Armidale, Tenterfield and Walcha will be safer, better connected and informed during natural disasters thanks to emergency broadcasting infrastructure upgrades.
As part of its $20 million Broadcasting Resilience Program (BRP), the Government is working with BAI Communications to improve the resilience of local ABC radio sites used for emergency broadcasting.
“It’s important that our regional communities are kept safe and connected during times of crisis. The critical broadcasting infrastructure upgrades will ensure this if a disaster strikes.” said former Glen Innes local and Senator for NSW, Tim Ayres.
Emergency power and satellite program backup services have been delivered in Mount Mackenzie, satellite program backup services in Little Duval and emergency power backup services in Clive Blakes Hill.
The upgrades also benefit other public, national and commercial broadcasters at the BAI sites.
To date, upgrades to help maintain communications during natural disasters have been delivered at 35 sites across regional and rural Australia, with design planning completed at a further 61 sites.
Through the BRP, the Commonwealth Government and BAI Communications are delivering:
· 55 new emergency power systems (e.g. battery and diesel backup);
· Backup satellite program inputs for 77 sites to quickly re-establish broadcast services;
· Civil and infrastructure upgrades to several ABC AM radio sites in areas susceptible to flooding;
· Five rapid-recovery assets that can be quickly deployed during natural disaster or emergencies.
The BRP is part of the Government’s $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan, which includes additional disaster-resilience measures such as the $50 million Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation Program and the $15 million Mobile Network Hardening Program.
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