The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan and ACT Liberal Senator Gary Humphries have announced ABC Classic FM and triple j will finally extend to Tuggeranong, Canberra’s largest town centre.

The city’s topography means poor reception of analogue radio and television services, especially in Kambah and the southern-most Tuggeranong Valley suburbs of Banks and Conder.

The area is coined ‘Nappy Valley’ by locals because of the huge number of young families.

While the commecial stations Mix 106.3 and FM 104.7 and Newsradio are serviced by translators on Tuggeranong Hill, until now the ABC’s main FM signals from Black Mountain have been severely affected by Mount Taylor.

Senator Coonan says:
“Improvements to the transmission infrastructure at Tuggeranong Hill will ensure the ABC can then broadcast Classic FM and Triple J to the Tuggeranong Valley which will be of particular benefit to people living in Kambah.”

Senator Humphries adds: “My underlying argument to the Government was that the ABC is a national institution which should be accessible for all Australians. Canberrans, particularly, are great fans of ABC radio.

“The upgrade of transmission facilities will enable the delivery of two of the ABC’s most popular radio channels – Classic FM for lovers of classical and contemporary music and youth radio station – triple j.”

The new services are expected to go to air before the Federal Election in July.