Around 60 people attended including disgruntled residents, industry representatives, local councillors and a representative from the office of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce. 

Walcha chapter chairperson Sonia O’Keefe welcomed the assembled crowd and explained the impetus behind the meeting came about when it was suggested that there were people within the community who not only had ideas about how to solve the inadequate telecommunications in the area but were willing to work together to make something happen.

“There is a growing body of evidence that shows when communities pull together and pool resources, they have a much better chance of getting improved telecommunication services,” said Ms O’Keefe. “It was important that Government, telecommunications companies and the local community were all part of today’s meeting.”

While Telstra sent an area representative to outline the current and planned Telstra infrastructure to the group, both Optus and Vodaphone sent their apologies for being unable to attend.

A representative from the National Broadband Network said fibre to the node would be available in the Walcha township from mid next year while regional areas already have access to a world-leading satellite service however they need to talk to one of the nine providers to get connected.

The first speaker was local grazier Jim Young who started by saying that this was a meeting which should not have been needed.

“There are detailed complaints regarding the lack of mobile coverage and poor internet service in nearly every regional and rural newspaper on a weekly basis,” Mr Young said. 

“We live in a technical age. We may be agriculturalist, but our reliance on good technical data and effective communication are of paramount importance because our business partners and associates expect it.”