Recently completed infrastructure resilience works at the Mount Wandera telecommunications site west of Moruya have improved road access, strengthened power supply protection and enhanced the resilience of the Eurobodalla emergency services radio network during natural disasters.
A total of $623,132 was delivered to Eurobodalla Shire Council ($329,971) and Essential Energy ($293,161) to improve bushfire resilience at the Mount Wandera Communications Station under the Australian Government’s Protecting Our Communities (Disaster Resilience) program administered by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips and Eurobodalla Mayor Mathew Hatcher toured the site today (Monday) to inspect upgrades to the Mount Wandera access road.
“This is really important work which has improved vehicular access to the site and will help enable better access to vital communications infrastructure during times of emergency,” Mrs Phillips said.
“Having access to reliable communications and emergency information is crucial during times of natural disaster. By building a more resilient telecommunications infrastructure network, we reduce the risk of damage and outages during and after storms and bushfires.”
Essential Energy has installed resilient power poles from the open farmland to the Mount Wandera summit, and replaced vulnerable above ground electrical turrets and pole mounted transformers with more resilient installations.
Council and Forestry Corporation of NSW collaborated on roadworks and drainage improvements, with Forestry Corporation undertaking grading from the start of Wandera Trig Road to the intersection of K-Ridge Road, and re-sheeting of Wandera Trig Road.
Mayor Hatcher said hardening critical council infrastructure and assets at the Mount Wandera included installation of fireproof lagging on cables and new Colorbond fencing around the perimeter of the Council site.
“This is Eurobodalla’s primary piece of telecommunications infrastructure, transmitting police, ambulance and fire radio communications. It also serves the ABC and commercial radio and television, and mobile phone services,” he said.
“The 2019-20 Bushfires caused extensive damage with the loss of emergency services radio networks, ABC radio broadcasting, and public telecommunications, significantly contributing to community anxiety and placing first responders at high risk.
“This resilience project will better place Eurobodalla to manage in the event of future bushfires.”
Mrs Phillips said the $38.25 million Protecting Our Communities (Disaster Resilience) program had also delivered $63,085 for the upgrade of NBN fixed wireless infrastructure at South Durras and $284,783 to replace timber power poles with fire resistant composite poles along Durras Road, north of Batemans Bay.
