Council Invites Community Collaboration to Identify Mobile Black Spots
Published on 16 March 2026
Many parts of the Southern Grampians Shire struggle with patchy, unreliable or non-existent mobile phone coverage. To begin addressing this issue, Southern Grampians Shire Council is calling on residents to assist with mapping mobile phone black spots across the region.
More noticeable now since the nationwide deactivation of 3G networks, residents and businesses have reported gaps in service across farmland, townships, roads and recreation areas. This has understandably raised concerns around safety, communication and day-to-day connectivity in the Shire.
Council is undertaking a Shire-wide investigation to identify where mobile coverage has been lost, weakened, or was never present to begin with. Council will combine industry research with local knowledge gathered through a community mapping project.
Council is seeking your support because the stories from our community and our own experiences often do not line up with what we are being told by our network service providers. Information gathered will go a long way towards supporting advocacy to government as well as service providers and will play a vital role in supporting applications for funding to correct these issues.
Southern Grampians Shire Council Acting Mayor Cr Helen Henry said community input will play a vital role in building an accurate picture of mobile connectivity across the Shire.
“This is a big shire, with over 2,800 kilometres of roads along with vast expanses of farmland, camping areas, waterways and bushland,” said Cr Henry. “It is a massive area for us to map and that’s why we’re asking our community to share their problem areas.
“Much of the land covered by black spots comprises of private land or remote places that our teams either cannot access or simply aren’t aware of. We’re hoping that local knowledge can help us to connect the whole region, so no one is left in the dark.”
Reliable mobile coverage is essential for emergency response, farm operations, tourism and local businesses, particularly in regional areas where connectivity can directly impact safety and economic activity.
Council is encouraging residents to keep the project in mind during their daily routines. Whether you’re out in a paddock, travelling down a back road, camping in nature or just in the wrong part of your street, we want to know exactly where there are gaps.
If you lose mobile service, please note your location and, once back in an area with reception, visit Council’s Engage With Us webpage to drop a pin on the interactive map and complete a short survey.
The information collected will be compiled into a detailed report providing an evidence-based snapshot of mobile coverage across Southern Grampians. The findings will support Council’s continued advocacy with telecommunications providers and government agencies to push for improved infrastructure and better outcomes.
The survey is now open and will run until Thursday 30 April 2026, with results to be analysed following the project’s completion.
To contribute to the project or learn more, head to the Engage with Us section of our website.
For updates on Council projects and community initiatives, visit Council’s website or sign up to the monthly eNews.
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