Cell coverage comes to Gloriavale
| Greymouth Star | Laura Mills |
The Gloriavale Christian Community is going to get a cellphone signal for the first time at its remote site inland of Nelson Creek.
The Rural Connectivity Group (RCG) has applied to the Grey District Council to install a cell tower near Lake Haupiri.
Currently, the signal drops out around Nelson Creek, though there are small pockets of signal beyond Gloriavale as far as the end fo the road.
A local resident said at times, this means people can get a text out of the area — if they are in the right spot and their stars are aligned.
The address for the cell tower is given as 28 Heaphy Road.
In August 2017, RCG was appointed by the government as the infrastructure provider to bring 4G mobile and wireless broadband coverage to rural New Zealand.
“The proposed site at 28 Heaphy Road has been identified as being suitable to provide coverage for the wider Haupiri area,” the application says.
It involves erecting a 25m high pole, and equipment cabinets. Access to the facility will be over Heaphy Road and an existing farm track.
Access to cellphones appears more relaxed now at Gloriavale, and members are regularly seen in town using their phones.