The lack of service in the region has been a bane of farmers, emergency service workers and local residents.

“It’s a matter of life and death … we have had 45 accidents in this region since 1981,” said farmer and Rural Fire Service group captain for Junee, Tony Clough.

In the past six months there has been three road accident fatalities. 

Mr Clough acknowledged that radio communication was used but in a modern age he said phone service was essential. 

Now his biggest concern is in getting the location of a tower right. The next step was to lobby for the best position so that service was far reaching. 

“Gundagai Road is the worst area … there is bugger all service,” he said. 

To get around the problem Mr Clough built a his own tower (booster) on his property “Windermere” more than a decade ago. 

“I will be pushing for the best position for this tower and I have been talking to Telstra to find out where it is likely to go,” he said. 

Member for Riverina and deputy prime minister Michael McCormack said the towers were being funded by the $220 million Mobile Black Spot Program. 

The latest funding announcement includes the areas of Dirnaseer and Wantabadgery. 

The Telstra base station at Dirnaseer will provide new coverage mainly to the west of the locality, while the installation at Wantabadgery will provide new and improved coverage to the village and surrounding areas,” he said. 

Late last year residents of Winchendonvale and Mimosa also received a phone tower after 10 years of lobbying. 

Bob McCormack of Winchendonvale said the tower has boosted service significantly from Marrar to Temora and Mimosa. 

“It put’s us in the 21st century,” he said. 

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