Tribute has been paid to a farmer and technology pioneer in the Wheatbelt, whose bequeathment – alongside investment from the WA Government, the private sector and the local shire – will deliver improved digital connectivity to the Goodlands district.
The Ross Leach Mobile Phone tower was formally switched on by Darren West MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the Agriculture and Food Minister, alongside local farmers and community members.
The WA Government contributed $260,000 from its Digital Farm Grants program towards the upgrade of the mobile base station to supply an enhanced 3G and 4G service, in association with commercial partner Telstra, the Kalannie community and the Shire of Dalwallinu.
The Kalannie Community Association chose to direct Ross Leach’s $20,000 bequeathment to the project, which will generate enduring business and lifestyle benefits to his community.
The upgrade will provide Goodlands with reliable mobile voice and broadband coverage with faster download speeds and greater bandwidth to approximately 25 agribusiness and their families across 3,894sqm.
The Digital Farm Grants program is extending high grade broadband services to more than 1,400 agribusiness enterprises across over 65,000sqm of the Kimberley, Gascoyne, Mid-West, Wheatbelt, Peel, South-West and Great Southern.
Source: WA Government