Halls Gap residents and businesses have been left frustrated as poor television reception continues to plague the town located at the heart of the Grampians mountains.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Halls Gap Residents & Ratepayers Association president Paul Turner said he wants the government to help fix the issue, which often plagues the town.
"I've been ringing about this issue since 2017 and we have had no action," he said.
"Probably over a year, my television will play up 15-20 times, it is that frequent and it is bloody inconvenient when it does happen.
"For example, this week we have had issues on Sunday and Tuesday night where it has been off for up to four hours a night, you just have to switch the thing off its so frustrating.
READ MORE:
"There is the occasion when a station might be better than some others, but normally what happens is it goes off for a bit then flickers on again so it is pointless watching it, but the other night it was off for hours so I rang Emma Kealy and said this is ridiculous and needs to be fixed.
Management of Australia's television reception is regulated by the federal government through the independent Australian Communications and Media Authority and Mr Turner wants them to help fix the issue in the town.
"There's nothing I can do to fix it, I have spoken to the technicians and they said I have the right aerial and connections, but its the reception in this area which is a well-known problem," he said.
"I've been ringing about this issue since 2017 and we have had no action"
- Paul Turner
"My point is, why should we have to go and put a (satellite) dish in at our own expense when people in Stawell, Ararat and Horsham don't have an issue.
"Why should we be penalised financially because they (ACMA) haven't got it right?
"If this happened in Melbourne it would be fixed in a day, and unfortunately us regional people don't matter."
Businesses in the area have also been struggling with the problem.
Halls Gap Caravan Park manager of the park Jenny Gumela said they have begun installing extensions pole on the park's antennas to try to improve the signal.
"I have just been dealing with a complaint, a customer described the television as absolutely useless and that is a pretty common complaint," she said.
"We have been investing in extension poles for the aerials to try and get them up a bit higher to try and get a bit more signal, especially at the back of our park which is right at the foot of the mountains.
READ MORE:
"It's not really something we can solve even though we have tried to fix it, we are just doing what we can basically."
"If something could be done to fix the problem that would be great for everybody.
"We have another park called Halls Gap Gardens Caravan Park and there we don't get any reception, so in the event of an emergency the warning systems are not in place.
"So anything that can be done to give our guests a better experience or make the town safer is something we definitely interested in.
"Otherwise we tell customers you have come to this place to enjoy the beautiful, natural scenery and that doesn't go together with modern technology, so you just have to have one or the other."
Member for the federal electorate of Wannon Dan Tehan commented briefly on the issue and said "the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) works with the responsible broadcasters for the maintenance of television services at transmission sites".
"An information hub about television reception is available at www.acma.gov.au/tvreception which provides information on how to resolve television reception issues.
"I encourage residents to contact my office and we will look into this matter."
Do you have something to say on this issue? Send a Letter to the Editor to editorial@stawelltimes.com.au
If you can see this message, you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Stawell Times-News, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and for allowing us to continue telling Stawell's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great town.