10/04/2024
A follow up “Letter to the Editor” by Chris Rickman published in the West Australian
After my recent letter, 'Connectivity Crucial 03/04,' shedding light on the complete lack of phone and internet coverage during Northcliffe's 100th birthday weekend celebrations, I engaged with the Manjimup Shire. The Manjimup Shire explained that despite years of lobbying, governmental indifference persists, confirmed by Telstra, which allocates internet solely based on population density, exacerbating connectivity disparity, particularly in vital sectors like agriculture. The Shire also confirmed the problem is widespread, not isolated to Northcliffe alone.
Concerns from friends in Nannup during events like the Nannup Music Festival underscore the urgent need for regional infrastructure upgrades. The stark contrast between the substantial resources generated by towns like Manjimup and the pervasive lack of reliable internet access is alarming.
Unreliable telecommunications impede tourism, especially during events like the Manjimup Cherry Festival and The Karri Cup. How are the towns supposed to run these events properly when EFTPOS machines won’t even work? Urgent telecommunication upgrades are imperative, especially given the region's significant bushfire history.
Chris Rickman
Belmont
