Update 10 Dec (PM): Telstra Exchange Fire In Warrnambool

Media Release, 10 December 2012

This is the latest update on Telstra’s ongoing efforts to restore communication services in south-western Victoria. 

Over the weekend Telstra’s technicians continued to make solid progress in reconnecting services. We now have 99 per cent of landline phone services repaired and all internet services reconnected. This is in addition to all mobile services and large business customers that were restored previously.

This means that there are now under 1,000 fixed line services, predominately in Warrnambool, remaining to be connected. Technicians will be connecting them one by one as cabling and equipment installation work continues.

Following customer feedback at last week’s town hall meeting in Warrnambool Telstra has announced that an interim compensation payment process will be introduced for small business customers. This will make it easier for customers with short term financial challenges to obtain part-payment of compensation quickly for those losses that they can quantify now, whilst still allowing claims to be submitted for losses that they can’t yet quantify. Information about the compensation claims process can be found at www.telstra.com.au/exchangefire or by calling 1800 008 979 from 8am to 8pm AEDST.

Community forums will be held in Cobden, Timboon, Port Campbell, Macarthur and Port Fairy today. Meetings are scheduled to occur in Balmoral, Dunkeld, Hamilton and Edenhope tomorrow.