PRIME MINISTER
THE HON. MALCOLM TURNBULL MP
NSW MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
THE HON. ANDREW CONSTANCE MP
MEMBER FOR DOBELL
KAREN MCNAMARA MP
MEMBER FOR ROBERTSON
LUCY WICKS MP
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
24 June 2016
A re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government will provide continuous mobile coverage on trains between the Central Coast and Hornsby, as well as Wi-Fi at each train station.
We will invest to upgrade and build telecommunications infrastructure to improve the lives of 30,000 Central Coast residents one in four of the adult workforce – who commute long distances by train each day.
There are more than sixty kilometres of rail between Wyong and Hornsby where commuters currently face little or no mobile data coverage.
The Coalition will invest $12 million to provide continuous in-train mobile coverage along this corridor as well as Wi-Fi at each train station.
“This will improve the lives of thousands of Central Coast residents who leave home before dawn each day and return after dark,” said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
“It will make work time more productive, enhance leisure time and help families and friends connect.
“And it’s happening because local members Karen McNamara and Lucy Wicks after spending hundreds of hours talking to commuters told me this was one of the most practical things we could do for families on the Central Coast.”
Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield said the Coalition understands that reliable mobile coverage is crucial for productivity.
“The Coalition understands the importance of reliable mobile coverage so commuters can get work done and stay in touch with family or the office,” said Minister Fifield.
Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks said this commitment is a game-changer which will directly benefit thousands of people every day.
“This is a major, innovative commitment from the Turnbull Government which will mean more of our hard-working commuters can stay connected for longer on the daily commute, which can be a 4 to 5 hour round trip to Sydney or Newcastle,” Mrs Wicks said.
Member for Dobell Karen McNamara said: “Better mobile connectivity on trains and Wi-Fi at train stations between the Central Coast and Sydney can seem like such a simple solution but it will make a big difference to so many people.”
The Turnbull Coalition Team’s $12 million commitment is expected to leverage an additional $4 million investment from the NSW Government. There will be an expression of interest process for mobile network providers to bid for the funding.
A re-elected Turnbull Coalition will work with the NSW Government to provide in-kind assistance to deliver the Wi-Fi and improved mobile coverage, facilitating access to land along the rail corridor and helping facilitate planning approvals for new infrastructure.
NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said: “A lack of mobile coverage is one of the greatest frustrations for customers on the Central Coast, so this investment will make a huge difference, keeping them connected on the go.”
This new project will build on the success of the Coalition’s $220 million Mobile Black Spot Programme which is already fixing thousands of mobile black spots around the country.
The Coalition is investing in infrastructure and delivering jobs and growth for the Central Coast.