Hinchinbrook MP, Andrew Cripps, has welcomed the announcement by the Federal LNP Government that Abergowrie and Long Pocket will benefit from the arrival of 3G/4G mobile phone network coverage as part of the Mobile Black Spot Program.

Mr Cripps said while the exact rollout of the new mobile phone towers would be determined in consultation with Federal and State Governments and subject to planning process, it was a good thing for Abergowrie and Long Pocket to be confirmed on the list.

“Telstra will build these new 3G/4G towers as part of the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program, extending mobile coverage into the Abergowrie and Long Pocket areas, which I have been lobbying for, for several years” said Mr Cripps.

“The sugar industry, emergency services, Abergowrie College and of course the local residents in the Long Pocket and Abergowrie areas will benefit greatly from this when the towers are built, so I’m very pleased with this good news for the district” he said.

Mr Cripps said the recent provision of high speed 4G data services at Abergowrie had been a step in the right direction for telecommunications in the upper Herbert Valley, but the delivery of towers to provide for mobile phone coverage was the ultimate goal.