Mr Taylor was at Tuena Store, Bigga Memorial Hall, Binda Store and the Albion Hotel at Grabben Gullen on Wednesday, sitting down with locals.

“Mobile and internet coverage is the biggest issue people want to talk to me about and I completely understand that. We had absolutely nothing happening in telecommunications under Labor and now we have a whole stack of solutions.

“Part of my challenge is to educate communities on what’s happening with improved mobile coverage and internet access - and the options they have. In the Upper Lachlan, I am just letting locals know about a series of small cell antennae which Telstra has connected to local exchanges. So in Bigga and Laggan and Trunkey Creek and Dalton, 4G internet is now available in the centre of the village. It’s a data only service for the next few months, but shortly there will be voice over 4G and residents will be able to make voice calls with their 4G compatible devices.

“I do encourage people to look closely at upgrading their phone or device to be able to make use of these new innovations. Having good mobile coverage and internet is so vital these days, for a whole range of reasons – safety, education, paying bills, connecting with people.”

Mr Taylor said across the Upper Lachlan, he was still working on securing better mobile coverage. “I have announced big new mobile phone towers will be coming for Dalton, Golspie, Tarlo and Trunkey Creek and these will extend hand held or antenna coverage to Laggan, Lost River, Wheeo, Grabben Gullen, Bannister, parts of Bigga (from a tower going up at Trunkey Creek), Fullerton and Limerick, Middle Arm, Mummel, Golspie, Breadalbane, Taralga, Tarlo, Greenwich Park, Big Hill and Roslyn.

“Coverage will also be improved along a number of local roads: Crookwell Road – between Goulburn and Crookwell, Goulburn Road – between Binda and Trunkey Creek, Range Road – between Bannister and Mummel and Lachlan Valley Way – between Cowra and Boorowa.

“I know we haven’t got solutions for everyone yet, but I’m working very hard on fixing the problems.”

Mr Taylor said it was important to inform Upper Lachlan communities that the first of two new satellites would be launched by the government in early October to provide, from the first half of next year, satellite broadband for communities unable to be serviced by fibre or fixed wireless.