Mid-Western region residents in the Goolma black spot area will continue to be without service until next year.
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The Telstra phone tower, which was promised for completion by the end of this year, has now been pushed back to the first quarter of 2017.
In June 2015, the federal government announced $6.40 million for new or upgraded mobile base stations in the region, including Goolma.
Construction was to begin in 2015 over three years.
The Goolma tower was earmarked for fast tracking, after a fatal crash in June this year.
A 55-year-old Quakers Hill man died when his Triumph motorcycle collided with a Toyota Yaris about ten kilometres west of Gulgong.
Those at the scene were unable to call for emergency services, with the area out of range of SOS only calls.
The Telstra Black Spot Program website shows planning for the tower has been complete but the target construction date has been pushed back to the first quarter of 2017.
Member for Calare, Andrew Gee said Telstra is responsible for the construction of the Goolma mobile phone tower under the Mobile Black Spot Program.
“Telstra has advised that due to wet weather and a delay in obtaining local government planning approval, the mobile phone tower is now due for completion in March 2017.”
The delay comes just a week after the Coalition Government announced the $60 million investment in Round 2 of the Mobile Black Spot Program, which includes Hargraves.
