People Power Saves Phone
Illawarra Mercury
Thursday January 15, 2009
TELSTRA will spare a pay phone at North Wollongong Beach it wanted removed after residents opposed the plan.
The company had pointed to an increase in the number of people who own mobile phones as the reason for its decision to remove one pay phone near North Beach and one at the southern end of Belmore Basin.Residents told the Mercury last week they were concerned by the removal of the North Beach phone, as it was in a popular area.Arjah-Learh Russell, of Shellharbour, said most people used their mobiles but "young people sometimes don't have phones or are often on pre-paid deals and can run out of credit".Telstra Country Wide Illawarra general manager Pat Nolan confirmed yesterday the North Beach phone would remain."This proves the consultation process does work and we do take note of the feedback."He said the phone near the fish markets would still be removed but said there was another phone within walking distance also at Belmore Basin.Pay phone usage had dropped by more than 60 per cent during the past eight years as the popularity of mobile phones rose, Mr Nolan said.
© 2009 Illawarra Mercury
