Construction of 27 additional mobile phone towers across the South East is still months away as the funding agreements and planning approvals have yet to be secured.


Premier Peter Malinauskas held a press conference in the Millicent CFS station over a year ago to announce the mobile phone towers would be funded by the three tiers of government, Telstra and some industry sources.


Liberal frontbencher Ben Hood has repeatedly asked questions in the Legislative Council about the towers including on the last day of the parliamentary year.


His latest question was answered by fellow South Easterner and Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven.


She said the announcement of the mobile phone towers in November of 2023 was received very positively.


“It was described as, I think the words were ‘an exemplar’ of how these sorts of agreements could potentially operate across the country,” Minister Scriven said.


“My most recent advice is the contractual arrangements between Telstra and the Federal Government were executed in the last fortnight.


“Telstra is now working with the South Australian Government Financing Authority to finalise the South Australian funding agreement, which I understand could not occur until that Federal/Telstra contractual arrangement was completed.


“I am advised that this agreement is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.


“Following the execution of the state funding agreement, Telstra will commence its usual process by lodging development applications for the towers.”