A State and Territory working group established by the Australian Government has agreed to national planning principles to ensure more Australians have reliable mobile coverage as soon as they move into a new housing estate.
The agreement follows the government’s changes to the Telecommunications in New Developments (TIND) policy announced in February, where all new housing developments of 50 house lots or more should include consideration of mobile coverage during planning processes.
Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said mobile coverage is an essential service like electricity and water.
“The report from the Mobile Telecommunications Working Group, agreed by State and Territory Planning Ministers, outlines new principles for a nationally consistent planning approach across jurisdictions.
“I look forward to working with the States and Territories to implement this streamlined approach and delivering a better-connected Australia.”
NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said homebuyers expect telecommunications infrastructure to be of a modern standard.
“The adoption of these new principles will support the better planning of these services to support new homes.
“The right planning approach will result in more connectivity for more people into the future.”
The Mobile Telecommunications Working Group which developed the national principles is co-led by the Commonwealth and NSW Government and comprises senior communications and planning government officials from the Commonwealth, states and territories.
The new agreed national principles:
- Recognise the need for reliable mobile telecommunications connectivity as an essential utility in all established and future growth areas
- Respond to shifting demands on mobile networks, and accept additional infrastructure will be needed to provide sufficient coverage and capacity
- Promote infrastructure sharing, and its benefits, in deployments
- Ensure early intervention and appropriate regulatory safeguards enable streamlined development approval barriers
- Safeguard identified sites to support both existing and future mobile telecommunications and enabling infrastructure
- Encourage improved information sharing between telecommunications and planning authorities on existing and planned coverage for expected re-zoning and land releases.