Agreement signed for regional radio

The state government has signed an agreement it says will formalise its plans for a new police and emergencies services network in regional Western Australia.

Police Minister Rob Johnson said the Community Safety Network-Regional Radio Network would replace the Police Regional Radio Network and provided digital radio overage for over 18,000 square kilometres.   

Mr Rob Johnson said the 2011-12 State Budget had allocated $94.5million through the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program to fund the common network infrastructure, signed off today by the State’s law enforcement and public safety agencies.

“The project will bring together WA Police; the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA); Fire and Rescue Service; and the Department of Corrective Services (DCS) under one common infrastructure managed by WA Police,” he said.

Opportunities will also be available to leverage access at minimal cost to additional radio sites across the State as part of the Regional Mobile Communications Project. 

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said both projects would significantly improve mobile telephone and digital radio communication in regional WA.

“Albany, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Pilbara will be the first major regions to gain access to the network, with Motorola being awarded the contract to implement the network to these areas,” Mr Grylls said.

“It is great to see Royalties for Regions funding such a significant and life saving project.”

Standardised terminal equipment will be used by WA Police, DCS and FESA, with WA Police and DCS already receiving the new equipment and beginning programming.