The Australian Communications and Media Authority has varied the technical specifications of the licence for Kyneton community radio service 3CH to improve its coverage and reception, particularly for listeners in the Macedon Ranges Shire area. The changes are included in the revised licence area plan for Bendigo radio released today. The changes also make available channel capacity for a new community radio service in Maryborough.

‘These changes will provide ongoing community radio services to a greater number of people in the Kyneton, Macedon Ranges and Maryborough regions,’ said Maureen Cahill, Acting General Manager, Inputs to Industry Division.

As part of the variation to the licence area plan, 3CH will relocate its transmission site from Kangaroo Hill to Mount Macedon. This will enable the service to extend its coverage to the entire Macedon Ranges Shire, including the townships of Gisborne, Macedon, Romsey and Woodend.

Since January 2007, Strengthening Goldfields Community Radio (SGCR) in Maryborough has been operating on a temporary community broadcasting licence, using the frequency 99.1 MHz. SGCR has expressed interest in obtaining a permanent community radio licence to serve the town of Maryborough.

The variation to the licence area plan is available on ACMA’s website or by calling 1300 850 115.

Media Contact: Blake Murdoch, ACMA Media on (02) 9334 7817.


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Backgrounder
Licence area plans determine the number and characteristics, including technical specifications, of broadcasting services that are to be available in particular areas of Australia with the use of the broadcasting services bands.

ACMA prepares licence area plans under section 26(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act) and may vary licence area plans under section 26(2) of the Act.

The Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) determined the Bendigo Licence Area Plan on 8 August 1997 and varied it again in October 1999.

The draft variation to the Bendigo licence area plan released for public comment in March 2008 proposed that Kyneton community radio service 3CH relocate its transmitter to Mount Macedon and extend the licence area of the service.

The variation also proposes that channel capacity be made available for a community radio service at Maryborough to operate on 99.1 MHz from the Community M Radio Site, 53 Burns Street, Maryborough (Victoria), with a maximum ERP 250W (omni-directional).

The variation also redefines the Bendigo RA1, Bendigo RA2, Bendigo RA3, Kyneton RA1, Maryborough RA1 and Echuca RA1 licence areas using 2001 Census boundaries.