21 October 1999

New community radio licence for the Lake Macquarie area, NSW

The Australian Broadcasting Authority has allocated a community radio licence for the Lake Macquarie area in New South Wales.

The licence has been allocated to Lake Waves FM Community Radio Inc. and the new service will broadcast on 97.3 MHz on the FM band.

The licensee has 12 months to get the new service up and running.

"The proposed service will add to the range and diversity of services in the Lake Macquarie region" said Professor David Flint, ABA Chairman. "The applicant satisfied the ABA it would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the general community in the Lake Macquarie area."

The ABA has allocated this licence after consulting with the people of the local community to seek their views on what additional broadcasting services were needed in their area.

The new community radio licence was advertised in the Lake Macquarie News on 18 August 1999. One application was received and the ABA whether the proposed service would meet existing and future community needs.

Lake Waves FM Community Radio Inc. currently operates a full time service under a temporary community broadcasting licence. The service features a wide range of programming which is intended to appeal to the general community.

Media contact: Donald Robertson, Manager, ABA Media and PR, on (02) 9334 7980.

To contact the new licensee, call Mr Jeffrey Funnell, President, on (02) 4965 3799.

21 October 1999 (Backgrounder follows - 1 page)

BACKGROUNDER

Lake Macquarie Region

Lake Macquarie is situated on the Central Coast of New South Wales and lies within the Newcastle commercial radio and television licence areas.

The Lake Macquarie area is currently served by ABC and SBS television in addition to three commercial television services. Radio services include five ABC services: 2ABCRN, 2ABCFM, 2JJJ, 2NC and 2PB; SBS service 2EA, and four commercial radio services: 2HD, 2NEW, 2KKO and 2XXX.

In the radio licence area plan for Newcastle region, released on 9 October 1998, the ABA determined one new community FM radio broadcasting licence be made available for Lake Macquarie.

Community licence allocation

Part 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, provides for the allocation of community broadcasting licences.

The ABA uses a merit-based allocation process where applicants compete on the basis of merit for the licence. The process includes opportunity for the public to comment on applications received.

The ABA must also have regard to:

(a) the extent to which the proposed service would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the community within the licence area of the proposed service; and

(b) the nature and diversity of the interests of that community; and

(c) the nature and diversity of other broadcasting services (including national broadcasting services) available within that licence area; and

(d) the capacity of the applicant to provide the proposed service; and

(e) the undesirability of one person being in a position to exercise control of more than one community broadcasting licence that is a broadcasting services bands licence in the same licence area; and

(f) the undesirability of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory or a political party being in a position to exercise control of a community broadcasting licence.

The Minister may also give directions to the ABA to give priority to a particular community interest or interests.

What we do l What's new l Search l Publications l Contact us l Home