Background
The Critical Communications Enhancement Program (CCEP) will deliver increased Government Radio Network (GRN) coverage through an enhancement of the existing GRN. The Rest of State region covers a total area of approximately 685,000 square kilometres. This includes the regions of New England (Armidale, Tamworth); Central West (Bathurst, Dubbo, Parkes); South Coast (Nowra, Bega); South West (Albury, Griffith, Wagga Wagga) and the State’s West (Bourke, Broken Hill, Wentworth).
The 685,000km2 covers all areas of New South Wales not covered by the CCEP Pilot, North Coast and Greater Metropolitan Area regions.
What is the existing status of the Rest of State Region?
Historically, a number of NSW Government agencies operate separate radio networks in the Rest of State region. This is in addition to the GRN which provides around 13 per cent shared and interoperable in-vehicle radio coverage, at public safety standard, in the region. The GRN and individual networks provide different coverage, with no single network covering the entire Rest of State region.
What will the CCEP Rest of State project deliver?
The CCEP Rest of State will enhance the existing GRN radio coverage in the region and improve the resilience of the network. New sites will be added and existing GRN, agency and private carrier co-location sites will be refreshed or significantly upgraded.
Through the enhanced GRN coverage in the Rest of State area, NSW Government agencies, and essential services will benefit from significantly improved shared network coverage. The enhanced GRN will also provide network capacity, availability and resilience designed to meet public safety standards. Learnings from the pilot in the North West of NSW are also helping to inform the design and state-wide delivery of an enhanced GRN.
Fast facts
Total area: The Rest of State region is approximately 685,000 square kilometres.
GRN coverage: Pre-existing GRN coverage of less than 17 per cent will increase to over 90 per cent through the CCEP. This represents over 35,000 square kilometres of additional in-vehicle radio coverage at public safety standard.
Rest of State enhanced CCEP site selection: The CCEP has selected a range of new sites and existing GRN, agency and private carrier co-location sites that will be refreshed or upgraded as part of the program. The primary aim is to increase the GRN coverage for the region.
Major towns: towns of Armidale, Tamworth, Bathurst, Dubbo, Parkes, Nowra, Bega, Albury, Griffith, Wagga Wagga, Bourke, Broken Hill and Wentworth.
Local Councils:
Central Region – Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cobar, Cowra, Dubbo, Forbes, Gilgandra, Hilltops, Lachlan, Lithgow, Narromine, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Weddin.
New England Region – Armidale, Glen Innes Severn, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Inverell, Liverpool Plains, MidCoast, Mid-Western, Moree Plains, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Singleton, Tamworth, Tenterfield, Upper Hunter, Uralla, Walcha, Warrumbungle.
North West Region – Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Unincorporated Area of NSW.
South Coast Region – Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, Goulburn Mulwaree, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Shoalhaven, Snowy Monaro, Upper Lachlan.
South West Region – Albury, Balranald, Berrigan, Bland, Carrathool, Coolamon, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Edward River, Federation, Greater Hume, Griffith, Hay, Junee, Leeton, Lockhart, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, Snowy Valleys, Temora, Wagga Wagga, Wentworth, Yass Valley.
Western Region – Broken Hill, Central Darling, Unincorporated Area of NSW.
Rest of State also includes sites which cross the border into Queensland: Goondiwindi, Southern Downs (part of New England), and Victoria: East Gippsland (part of South Coast), Greater Shepparton, Indigo, Moira, Wodonga (part of South West).