SMALL-business owner Belinda Mann’s calls for a phone tower in the Pyrenees Shire have gone unanswered.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms Mann, who is co-owner of Central Vic Bangsticks, said the region was in desperate need of a phone tower for many reasons.
“We need another tower. There needs to be another tower in Moonambel, Avoca and Waubra,” Ms Mann said.
Ms Mann not only needs full mobile coverage for her business, but also for her safety.
About 18 months ago Ms Mann and her husband fought off a grassfire at Mount Cole that had burned onto their Lexton property.
Ms Mann said she did not have mobile reception during the event.
Her firearm business has also suffered a blow.
When Ms Mann tried to get a second phone line on her property for her business, Telstra said she had to divide her existing phone line.
“That took three weeks to complete. When you are trying to run a business, that is a long time,” Ms Mann said.
“We lost 25 to 30 per cent of our business.”
Ms Mann said she should not have to uproot her life in Lexton just to receive proper mobile phone coverage.
“You can’t just pack up and leave ... it is expensive,” she said.
She has also called for and end to the monopoly in the local market.
“We only have the choice of Telstra,” she said. “With Telstra, when you are 10 minutes out of Beaufort (you don’t get reception).”