The tower is jointly funded by the state and federal governments.

Hume MP Angus Taylor joined Member for Goulburn Pru Goward and Telstra representatives and Tarlo residents at the site.

Resident Geoff Ryan said communication was 200 per cent better than it had been.

“It was a black, black hole for a lot of years,” he said.

Another resident, Jack Earl, said he now had reception from the Tarlo bridge in to Goulburn, as well as out on the range. The tower covered about 80 per cent of his property.  

Tarlo RFS president Kevin Matangi also said the improved communication would make it much easier to contact firefighters to crew trucks.

The tower is the tenth in Hume to be switched on. A further two are planned for Buxton and Nattai.

“I am actively supporting funding applications from local councils for more mobile towers under Round 4 of the Mobile Blackspot program,” Mr taylor said.

“There will be more details about the re-opening of the Blackspot database in the next couple of weeks.”

Member for Goulburn Pru Goward said the tower would make a huge difference to the lives of people around Tarlo.

“It will improve their businesses, their social connections and their safety. Finally they too can ring triple zero,” she said.

Telstra Area General Manager Chris Taylor said the new mobile base station was part of $20 million worth of investment by Telstra in the Southern Tablelands and South Coast region this year.

“Tarlo is among more than 650 sites being delivered by Telstra across the nation under the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot program.”

Local antenna supplier Dave Edworthy said because of the extensive 4G signal, he could now solve most complaints across the district about mobile phone and internet connectivity.

“There is a lack of knowledge about how to access and benefit from the 4G network,” Mr Edworthy said.

“Everything is going to go wireless. In two or three years, all you will need from anywhere in this district is a big antenna. You may not pick up a signal from the closest tower, but you’ll pick one up from somewhere, even if it’s 40 to 50km away.”