As a resident of Kenmore Hills, I have firsthand experience of the frustration and isolation caused by the lack of reliable 4G and 5G connectivity in our area, particularly along Gap Creek Road, Kookaburra Street, and Deerhurst Road. It becomes especially concerning during frequent weather events, where power outages further exacerbate the issue, leaving residents and visitors alike without a way to connect to the outside world.

This lack of connectivity is not just an inconvenience; it is a pressing safety concern. For many, including the elderly who heavily rely on mobile phones as their primary means of connection, being without service during emergencies is unacceptable. In an area prone to severe weather conditions, a stable cellular network is not a luxury but a necessity for community safety and peace of mind.

Mobile phone connectivity is unusable from nearly the top of Gap Creek Road (Brookfield Rd end) and approx 1km beyond the Gap Creek Reserve. This also includes a lot of Deerhurst Rd (Brookfield) and Kookaburra Street.

• Importantly, this includes the creek crossing of Gap Creek Road which quickly floods after heavy rain. At least yearly, emergency services are needed to rescue stranded motorists in the floodwater. Often people have to drive 1km+ to get signal to call for rescue. In the cover photo of this petition, is a stranded car. I took this pic in 2024 when the car got stuck. We had to call 000 but with no reception we had to drive up the road!
• Gap Creek Reserve is a beautiful area used by thousands of people daily, including risky downhill mountain biking. If someone was to be injured, simply calling an ambulance is hit and miss.
• The Elderly demographic of this neighbourhood means in prolonged power outages (like cyclone Alfred) where power is gone for 3+ days. These older community members don’t have solar batteries or generators, so NBN and cellular boosters do not work. These people live in the dark ages for days on end.

After prolonged discussions with Telstra, they do not believe it’s an issue. We are calling upon Telstra and Optus to invest in the necessary infrastructure upgrades to provide robust 4G and 5G networks in Kenmore Hills and Brookfield. Improving connectivity in these areas will ensure that all residents and visitors have reliable communication channels, particularly during emergencies.