131 projects completed under Broadcasting Resilience Program

The Australian Government has announced the delivery and completion of 131 projects through its $20 million Broadcasting Resilience Program (BRP), designed to strengthen local radio broadcast services in order to keep communities connected during emergencies. Delivered by BAI Communications, the program followed the release of the 2020 Royal Commission on National Natural Disaster Arrangements Report, which highlighted how important broadcast media was during disasters and identified how power outages could affect this service.

The BRP has resulted in the upgrade of 98 ABC AM and FM broadcast sites to help keep communities connected, safe and informed during times of emergency. Five mobile broadcasting assets have also been rolled out, which can be rapidly deployed during emergencies to communities if ABC local radio transmission fails — including during power outages caused by severe weather.

The effectiveness of these critical emergency response units was demonstrated in June on Queensland’s Dunk Island, following a mains power cable cut that caused widespread outages across the community. The mobile broadcasting asset, stationed at Mount Bellenden Ker in Cairns, was deployed to Dunk Island and had local broadcast services and mobile charging capabilities for the community back up and running in about 24 hours.

Upgrades delivered through the BRP have also kept local radio on the airwaves during the floods in Tasmania last year, the Wilcannia storms in NSW and the Dimbulah bushfires. Almost all of the 48 sites that received emergency power upgrades under the program have been used, providing 1215 hours of emergency power.

“We’re proud that the Albanese government’s $20 million Broadcasting Resilience Program has delivered innovative and resilient communications infrastructure across the country,” said Minister for Communications Anika Wells.

“It’s important our broadcasting infrastructure keeps running to keep all Australians safe and up to date with essential information during an emergency.

“The upgrades and infrastructure delivered through this program is helping keep our regional and remote communities safe and emergency broadcasts on the air when Australians need them most.”

Image credit: BAI Communications.