Visitors to Musgrave Roadhouse could be texting photos of their trip in real time within months if a Telstra plan to install a long-awaited mobile tower receives the planning green light.
A development application to build a 4G small cell at the roadhouse is currently with Cook Shire Council, and Telstra regional general manager Rachel Cliffe said the telecommunication giant hoped to have the infrastructure operational as soon as the planning process permitted.
“Preparations are well underway to deliver a new 4G small cell at the Musgrave Roadhouse under the [Federal Government] Mobile Black Spot Program,” she explained.
“Once up and running, it’ll provide mobile coverage to travellers at the roadhouse, as well as several kilometres of Peninsula Developmental Road.
“We hope to have the roadhouse site live in the next few months, subject to gaining all the necessary approvals.”
The plan has been welcomed by roadhouse boss Adam McDowell, who said staff and visitors currently relied on inhouse Wi-Fi to stay connected.
“It should be good for the tourists, travellers and locals,” he said.
“It’s an area that relies on the Wi-Fi we provide here, but it’s not a real reliable system.
“Any sort of mobile coverage is going to be good up here.”
Once planning approval has been granted, the tower will be installed between the roadhouse’s accommodation block and caravan park.