Emergency services radio boost between Stanwell Tops and Garrawarra

A radio network site will be installed at Waterfall’s Garrawarra Centre to improve emergency services radio coverage south to Stanwell Tops. Photo: NSW Government

CRITICAL communications for emergency services has been boosted with the instalment of a new government radio network site to improve coverage in rugged bushland between Stanwell Tops and Waterfall.

NSW Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the site at the Garrawarra Centre, Waterfall was critical to community safety by in-filling coverage spots in the Royal National Park.

“The NSW Telco Authority is expanding the footprint of the state’s critical communications network to ensure public safety agencies have an enhanced network when serving and protecting the community,” Mr Dominello said.

“The new site allows our public safety agencies to better protect the Royal National Park and visitors during a critical incident, such as a bushfire or flood.”

Heathcote MP Lee Evans said the Garrawarra site extends the network coverage from just the paved roads within the Royal National Park by providing in-fill coverage in the deep valleys.

The Garrawarra site is part of the NSW Telco Authority’s Critical Communications Enhancement Program (CCEP) which is increasing the government radio network from 190 sites to 700, with coverage expanding from 35 per cent of the State to over 80 per cent.

“We are investing $320 million over the next four years to expand the GRN across the State. This represents the biggest investment in critical communications infrastructure in two decades,” Mr Dominello said.

The CCEP represents the biggest investment in critical communications infrastructure by the NSW Government in two decades.