Across the region, poor or non-existent mobile coverage is a sad fact of life for residents.

Poor mobile coverage in the northern Grampians and Yaapeet was a serious issue during January’s bushfires.

The Federal Government has put aside $100 million to tackle blackspots nationally.

While the commitment is a good start, with that level of investment it seems inevitable that some communities will miss out.

Member for Mallee Andrew Broad has nominated Yaapeet, the Grampians, Wartook Valley and Quambatook as the priority areas for new towers.

The government needs to listen to Mr Broad to ensure the safety of these communities during natural disasters.

Sadly, many will continue to contend with poor service as there is simply not enough money allocated to fix blackspot problems.

Aside from safety concerns during natural disasters, the lack of coverage is a roadblock to the region’s development.

Poor coverage prevents economic growth and development.

It is the role of our representatives at all levels of government to continue pushing for this essential service.

The work done in lobbying government has been strong so far, but the momentum must be maintained to see improvement.

Mobile coverage is vital to residents’ safety and the region’s growth.