EZY decision for new Lithgow licence second time around

New community radio licence for Lithgow, NSW
The ABA has allocated a new community radio licence to EZY FM in Lithgow NSW after delaying the licence allocation last year.

Lithgow Community Broadcasters Inc. will broadcast as EZY-FM on FM 90.5. The station is currently broadcasting on that frequency under a temporary community broadcasting licence that expires on 15 October 2004. The new permanent will begin the next day.

ABA General Manager Giles Tanner says: “The proposed service will add to the range and diversity of services in the Lithgow area. The applicant satisfied the ABA that it would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the community in the licence area.”

The ABA made this licence available after a consultation process. EZY-FM was the only applicant. Its application was assessed with particular regard to whether the proposed service would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the general community in the Lithgow area, appealing to the mature/senior citizen community in Lithgow.

On 30 January 2003 the ABA decided not to allocate the Lithgow licence to EZY-FM, on the basis that the station “failed to demonstrate adequate financial capacity to establish and maintain a permanent community radio service and failed to demonstrate that the proposed service would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the Lithgow area.”

In the past year EZY has shown its ability to meet these corporate governance requirements.