Licence Area Plan - Cairns (Radio) - Variation - September 2004

Administered by Department of Communications and the Arts

Legislation au F2005B00747 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

VARIATION TO LICENCE AREA PLAN

Cairns
(Radio)

 

 

 

Australian Broadcasting Authority
Canberra
September 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Commonwealth of Australia  September 2004

This work is copyright. Apart from fair dealings for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means or process, without the written permission of the publishers.

Published by the Australian Broadcasting Authority
PO Box 34
Belconnen
ACT 2616

 


VARIATION TO LICENCE AREA PLAN

CAIRNS – SEPTEMBER 2004

The Australian Broadcasting Authority herby varies the licence area plan (LAP) for radio in the Cairns region of Queensland, determined on 18 October 1997 and subsequently varied on 8 October 1998, under subsection 26(2) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.

The variation determines that channel capacity be made available for:

  •       two national radio services in Cairns and Cairns North;
  •       two FM transmitters for the 4CCA commercial radio service in Redlynch Valley and Little Mulgrave;
  •       an FM transmitter for an additional community radio service in Cairns;
  •       an open narrowcasting service in Port Douglas; and

vary the technical specifications of two commercial radio services in Mossman , as set out below:

Service Category

Service Licence No.

Technical Specification No.

Frequency

Attach No.

Area Served

Status

National

N/A

TS10013639

96.3 MHz

1.23

Cains North

Add

National

N/A

TS10013402

101.1 MHz

1.24

Cairns

Add

Commercial

SL1150014

TS10013339

91.5 MHz

1.25

Redlynch Valley

Add

Commercial

SL1150014

TS10013395

93.5 MHz

1.26

Little Mulgrave

Add

Community

SL1150829

TS10013927

101.9 MHz

3.2

Cairns

Add

Open Narrowcasting

N/A

TS10013925

106.3 MHz

1.27

Port Douglas

Add

Commercial

SL1150014

TS10007487

91.7 MHz

1.5.1

Mossman

Vary

Commercial

SL5742

TS10007488

92.5 MHz

1.7.1

Mossman

Vary

 

The variation also redefines the licence areas of the existing Cairns commercial radio services, 4IL, 4HOT, 4CCA and 4RGC and the Cairns community radio services 4CCR and 4CIM and defines the licence area of the new Cairns community radio service using 2001 Census boundaries.

The descriptions of the updated licence areas are at Attachments 1.1.1, 2 .1.1 and 3.1.

 

 

(Determined by the Australian Broadcasting Authority on 23 September 2004)

Schedules

Each of the Schedules sets out:

  • the category of each of the services that are to be available in that area (column one).
  • the status of the service (column two) does not form part of the licence area plan decision and is included for reference only.
  • the frequency for each transmitter (column three) does not form part of the licence area plan decision and is included for reference only.
  • the service licence number which has been allocated to the service, if appropriate (column four);  N/A = Not Applicable, as the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 only requires service licences for Commercial and Community services.
  • the transmitter specification number which has been allocated to each transmitter (column five),
  • the identifying number of the attachment where the technical specifications for each transmitter are described (column six).  (Each set of technical specifications referred to in the Schedules is an attachment to this determination).
  • the general area served by each transmitter (column seven).

Status Column

Licensed: service is already licensed

Available: new licence available for allocation

Proposed: transmitter for existing broadcasting service licence

Alternative: alternative channel proposed for licensed service

Reserved: capacity reserved for a national or community service in accordance with Ministerial notification

Frequency Column

The frequency shown is the centre frequency of the channel.

The information in the frequency column is provided as additional information to the licence area plan, and is accurate as at the date of publication.

 


For ease of reference, the schedule affected by this draft variation to the LAP has been updated to reflect the proposed variation to this plan.

Schedule One of the Cairns LAP prior to this proposed variation is reproduced below.

SCHEDULE ONE

Licence Area Plan : Cairns - (Radio) - October 1997 - as varied October 1998

Licence Area : Cairns RA1

 

Service Category

Status

Frequency

Service Licence No

Technical Specification No

Attach No

Area Served

Commercial

Licensed

846 kHz                                  

SL4170

TS10007435

1.2

Cairns

Commercial

Licensed

954 kHz

SL4170

TS10007448

1.3

Gordonvale

Commercial

Licensed

103.5 MHz

SL5742

TS10007433

1.4

Cairns

Commercial

Licensed

91.7 MHz

SL5742

TS10007487

1.5

Mossman

Commercial

Available

102.7 MHz

SL1150014

TS10007328

1.6

Cairns

Commercial

Available

92.5 MHz

SL1150014

TS10007488

1.7

Mossman

Commercial

Available

99.5 MHz

SL1150044

TS10007855

1.8

Cairns

Commercial

Available

88.5 MHz

SL1150044

TS0007856

1.9

Mossman

National

Licensed

801 kHz

N/A

TS4046001

1.22

Cairns

National

Licensed

105.9 MHz

N/A

TS10007417

1.10

Cairns

National

Licensed

105.1 MHz

N/A

TS10007418

1.11

Cairns

National

Licensed

105.9 MHz

N/A

TS10007419

1.12

Cairns

National

Licensed

107.5 MHz

N/A

TS10007421

1.13

Cairns

National

Licensed

95.5 MHz

N/A

TS10007422

1.14

Cairns North

National

Licensed

93.9 MHz

N/A

TS10007423

1.15

Cairns North

National

Licensed

97.1 MHz

N/A

TS10007430

1.16

Cairns North

National

Licensed

94.7 MHz

N/A

TS10007586

1.17

Cairns North

National

Licensed

90.1 MHz

N/A

TS10007432

1.18

Mossman

National

Licensed

639 kHz

N/A

TS10007457

1.19

Mossman

Open Narrowcasting

Available

104.3 MHz

N/A

TS10007456

1.20.1

Cairns

Open Narrowcasting

Licensed

90.9 MHz

N/A

TS10007489

1.21

Mossman

The updated schedule to the LAP affected by this variation is as follows:

Schedule One

Licence Area Plan : Cairns Radio -  September 2004

Licence Area : CAIRNS RA1

Service Category

Status

Channel/ Frequency

Service Licence No

Transmitter Specification No

Attach No

Area Served

Commercial

Licensed

846 kHz

SL4170

TS10007435

1.2

Cairns

 

Licensed

954 kHz

SL4170

TS10007448

1.3

Gordonvale

Commercial

Licensed

103.5 MHz

SL5742

TS10007433

1.4

Cairns (Mt Yarrabah)

 

Licensed

91.7 MHz

SL5742

TS10007487

1.5.1

Mossman

Commercial

Licensed

102.7 MHz

SL1150014

TS10007328

1.6

Cairns (Mt Yarrabah)

 

Licensed

92.5 MHz

SL1150014

TS10007488

1.7.1

Mossman

 

Proposed

91.5 MHz

SL1150014

TS10013339

1.25

Redlynch Valley

 

Proposed

93.5 MHz

SL1150014

TS10013395

1.26

Little Mulgrave

Commercial

Licensed

99.5 MHz

SL1150044

TS10007855

1.8

Cairns (Mt Yarrabah)

 

Licensed

88.5 MHz

SL1150044

TS10007856

1.9

Mossman

National

Licensed Reserved

801 kHz

N/A

TS4046001

1.22

Cairns

National

Licensed Reserved

106.7 MHz

N/A

TS10007417

1.10

Cairns

National

Licensed Reserved

105.1 MHz

N/A

TS10007418

1.11

Cairns

National

Licensed Reserved

105.9 MHz

N/A

TS10007419

1.12

Cairns

National

Licensed Reserved

107.5 MHz

N/A

TS10007421

1.13

Cairns

National

Proposed Reserved

101.1 MHz

N/A

TS10013402

1.24

Cairns

National

Licensed Reserved

95.5 MHz

N/A

TS10007422

1.14

Cairns North

National

Licensed Reserved

93.9 MHz

N/A

TS10007423

1.15

Cairns North

National

Licensed Reserved

97.1 MHz

N/A

TS10007430

1.16

Cairns North

National

Licensed Reserved

94.7 MHz

N/A

TS10007586

1.17

Cairns North

National

Proposed Reserved

96.3 MHz

N/A

TS10013639

1.23

Cairns North

National

Licensed Reserved

90.1 MHz

N/A

TS10007432

1.18

Mossman

National

Licensed Reserved

639 kHz

N/A

TS10007457

1.19

Mossman

Open Narrowcasting

Licensed

104.3 MHz

N/A

TS10007456

1.20.1

Cairns (Mt Yarrabah)

Open Narrowcasting

Licensed

90.9 MHz

N/A

TS10007489

1.21

Mossman

Open Narrowcasting

Available

106.3 MHz

N/A

TS10013925

1.27

Port Douglas

Schedule 3

Draft Licence Area Plan : Cairns Radio -  September 2004

Licence Area : CAIRNS RA3

Service Category

Status

Channel/ Frequency

Service Licence No

Transmitter Specification No

Attach No

Area Served

Community

Available

101.9 MHz

SL1150829

TS10013927

3.2

Cairns

 

 


Attachment 1.1.1

Licence Area - CAIRNS RA1

Commercial Radio Service Licence numbers:  SL4170, SL5742, SL1150014, SL1150044

The licence area, in terms of areas defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics at the Census of 5 August 2001, is: 

Area Description

Cairns (C) - Barron (SLA)

Cairns (C) - Central Suburbs (SLA)

Cairns (C) - City (SLA)

Cairns (C) - Mt Whitfield (SLA)

Cairns (C) - Northern Suburbs (SLA)

Cairns (C) - Trinity (SLA)

Cairns (C) - Western Suburbs (SLA)

QLD CD 010803

QLD CD 010804

QLD CD 010805

QLD CD 010806

QLD CD 010807

QLD CD 010808

QLD CD 010810

QLD CD 010901

QLD CD 010902

QLD CD 010903

QLD CD 010904

QLD CD 010905

QLD CD 010906

QLD CD 010907

QLD CD 010908

QLD CD 010909

QLD CD 010910

QLD CD 010911

QLD CD 010912

QLD CD 010913

QLD CD 010914

QLD CD 010915

QLD CD 010916

QLD CD 010917

QLD CD 010918

QLD CD 012002

QLD CD 012003

QLD CD 012004

QLD CD 012005

QLD CD 012007

QLD CD 012008

QLD CD 012011

QLD CD 012012

QLD CD 012206

QLD CD 012217

QLD CD 012301

QLD CD 012302

QLD CD 030302

QLD CD 030303

QLD CD 030304

QLD CD 030311

QLD CD 030312

QLD CD 030313

QLD CD 030314

QLD CD 030316

QLD CD 030317

QLD CD 030318

 

Note: 

Standard terminology used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics: 

 (C)  =   City

(SLA)  =   Statistical Local Area

(CD)  =   Collection District

 


Attachment 1.5.1

LICENCE AREA PLAN : Cairns Radio -  September 2004

Category : Commercial

General Area Served : Mossman (QLD)

Service Licence Number : SL5742

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio

Specification Number : TS10007487

Transmitter Site :-

Nominal location : Crown Castle Mossman Site  Gorge View               Crescent  MOSSMAN

Australian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing
Reference 55 325240 8178150

Site Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines

Emission :-

Frequency Band & Mode VHF-FM

Carrier Frequency : 91.7 MHz

Polarisation Mixed

Maximum antenna height 40 m

Output Radiation Pattern :-

Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction)

Maximum ERP

At all angles of azimuth

1 kW

 


Attachment 1.7.1

LICENCE AREA PLAN : Cairns Radio -  September 2004

Category : Commercial

General Area Served : Mossman (QLD)

Service Licence Number : SL1150014

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio

Specification Number : TS10007488

Transmitter Site :-

Nominal location : Crown Castle Mossman Site  Gorge View               Crescent  MOSSMAN

Australian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing
Reference 55 325240 8178150

Site Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines

Emission :-

Frequency Band & Mode VHF-FM

Carrier Frequency : 92.5 MHz

Polarisation Mixed

Maximum antenna height 40 m

Output Radiation Pattern :-

Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction)

Maximum ERP

At all angles of azimuth

1 kW

 


Attachment 1.23

LICENCE AREA PLAN : Cairns Radio -  September 2004

Category : National

General Area Served : Cairns North (QLD)

Service Licence Number : Not applicable

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio

Specification Number : TS10013639

Transmitter Site :-

Nominal location : Broadcast Site  BUCHAN POINT

Australian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing
Reference 55 357300 8148900

Site Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines

Emission :-

Frequency Band & Mode VHF-FM

Carrier Frequency : 96.3 MHz

Polarisation Mixed

Maximum antenna height 37 m

Output Radiation Pattern :-

Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction)

Maximum ERP

0°T - 118°T

2.5 kW

118°T - 133°T

5 kW

133°T - 203°T

10 kW

203°T - 218°T

5 kW

218°T - 360°T

2.5 kW

 


Attachment 1.24

LICENCE AREA PLAN : Cairns Radio -  September 2004

Category : National

General Area Served : Cairns (QLD)

Service Licence Number : Not applicable

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio

Specification Number : TS10013402

Transmitter Site :-

Nominal location : Radio Terminal  MT BELLENDEN-KER

Australian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing
Reference 55 378034 8090678

Site Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines

Emission :-

Frequency Band & Mode VHF-FM

Carrier Frequency : 101.1 MHz

Polarisation Mixed

Maximum antenna height 53 m

Output Radiation Pattern :-

Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction)

Maximum ERP

At all angles of azimuth

100 kW

 

Special Conditions :-

Note: The antenna height of this national service has been changed from 50 to 53 metres. Refer to file 1998/5261.


Attachment 1.25

LICENCE AREA PLAN : Cairns Radio -  September 2004

Category : Commercial

General Area Served : Redlynch Valley (QLD)

Service Licence Number : SL1150014

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio

Specification Number : TS10013339

Transmitter Site :-

Nominal location : NTL Site  Mt Williams Redlynch Valley                CAIRNS

Australian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing
Reference 55 360380 8129200

Site Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines

Emission :-

Frequency Band & Mode VHF-FM

Carrier Frequency : 91.5 MHz

Polarisation Mixed

Maximum antenna height 25 m

Output Radiation Pattern :-

Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction)

Maximum ERP

At all angles of azimuth

500 W

 

Special Conditions :-

Any transmission in accordance with this technical specification is planned on the basis that it will be protected to a minimum median field strength level of 66 dBuV/m and above against interference from other broadcasting services.


Attachment 1.26

LICENCE AREA PLAN : Cairns Radio -  September 2004

Category : Commercial

General Area Served : Little Mulgrave (QLD)

Service Licence Number : SL1150014

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio

Specification Number : TS10013395

Transmitter Site :-

Nominal location : Broadcast Planning Site  Goldsborough  Valley  LITTLE MULGRAVE

Australian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing
Reference 55 366550 8101950

Site Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines

Emission :-

Frequency Band & Mode VHF-FM

Carrier Frequency : 93.5 MHz

Polarisation Mixed

Maximum antenna height 20 m

Output Radiation Pattern :-

Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction)

Maximum ERP

At all angles of azimuth

500 W

 

Special Conditions :-

Any transmission in accordance with this technical specification is planned on the basis that it will be protected to a minimum median field strength level of 66 dBuV/m and above against interference from other broadcasting services.


Attachment 1.27

LICENCE AREA PLAN : Cairns Radio -  September 2004

Category : Open Narrowcasting

General Area Served : Port Douglas (QLD)

Service Licence Number : Not applicable

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio

Specification Number : TS10013925

Transmitter Site :-

Nominal location : Communications Tower  Flagstaff Hill   PORT DOUGLAS

Australian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing
Reference 55 336262 8176960

Site Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines

Emission :-

Frequency Band & Mode VHF-FM

Carrier Frequency : 106.3 MHz

Polarisation Mixed

Maximum antenna height 20 m

Output Radiation Pattern :-

Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction)

Maximum ERP

At all angles of azimuth

100 W

Special Conditions :-

Any transmission in accordance with this technical specification is planned on the basis that it will be protected to a minimum median field strength level of 66 dBuV/m and above against interference from other broadcasting services.

The 'coverage radius' of this transmission is 10 kilometres measured from the nominal transmitter location (AMG co-ordinates: Zone 55; Easting 336262; Northing 8176960)


Attachment 2.1.1

Licence Area - CAIRNS RA2

Community Radio Service Licence numbers:  SL1883, SL1150013

The licence area, in terms of areas defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics at the Census of 5 August 2001, is: 

Area Description

Cairns (C) - Central Suburbs (SLA)

Cairns (C) - City (SLA)

Cairns (C) - Mt Whitfield (SLA)

QLD CD 011217

QLD CD 011301

QLD CD 011302

QLD CD 011303

QLD CD 011304

QLD CD 011307

QLD CD 011316

QLD CD 011317

QLD CD 011505

QLD CD 011510

QLD CD 011511

QLD CD 011514

QLD CD 011515

QLD CD 011601

QLD CD 011602

QLD CD 011603

QLD CD 011604

QLD CD 011605

QLD CD 011606

QLD CD 011607

QLD CD 011608

QLD CD 011610

QLD CD 011611

QLD CD 011612

QLD CD 011613

QLD CD 011614

QLD CD 011615

QLD CD 011617

QLD CD 011618

QLD CD 011701

QLD CD 011702

QLD CD 011703

QLD CD 011704

QLD CD 011705

QLD CD 011706

QLD CD 011707

QLD CD 011708

QLD CD 011709

QLD CD 011710

QLD CD 011711

QLD CD 011712

QLD CD 011713

QLD CD 011714

QLD CD 011802

QLD CD 011803

QLD CD 011804

QLD CD 011805

QLD CD 011806

QLD CD 011807

QLD CD 011808

QLD CD 011809

QLD CD 011810

QLD CD 011811

QLD CD 011812

QLD CD 011901

QLD CD 011906

QLD CD 011908

QLD CD 011909

QLD CD 011911

QLD CD 011913

QLD CD 011914

QLD CD 011918

QLD CD 012101

QLD CD 012102

QLD CD 012103

QLD CD 012104

QLD CD 012105

QLD CD 012109

QLD CD 012112

QLD CD 012115

QLD CD 012116

QLD CD 012122

QLD CD 012202

QLD CD 012203

QLD CD 012204

QLD CD 012212

QLD CD 012213

QLD CD 012219

QLD CD 012220

QLD CD 012221

QLD CD 012701

QLD CD 012702

QLD CD 012703

QLD CD 012704

QLD CD 012705

QLD CD 012706

QLD CD 012707

QLD CD 012708

QLD CD 012709

QLD CD 012710

QLD CD 012711

QLD CD 012712

QLD CD 012713

QLD CD 012714

QLD CD 012715

QLD CD 012716

 

Note: 

Standard terminology used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics: 

 (C)  =   City

(SLA)  =   Statistical Local Area

(CD)  =   Collection District

 


Attachment 3.1

Licence Area - CAIRNS RA3

Community Radio Service Licence numbers:  SL1150829

The licence area, in terms of areas defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics at the Census of 5 August 2001, is: 

Area Description

QLD CD 011001

QLD CD 011002

QLD CD 011006

QLD CD 011007

QLD CD 011008

QLD CD 011208

QLD CD 011209

QLD CD 011211

QLD CD 011212

QLD CD 011408

QLD CD 011409

QLD CD 011514

QLD CD 011601

QLD CD 011602

QLD CD 011603

QLD CD 011604

QLD CD 011605

QLD CD 011606

QLD CD 011607

QLD CD 011608

QLD CD 011610

QLD CD 011611

QLD CD 011612

QLD CD 011613

QLD CD 011614

QLD CD 011615

QLD CD 011616

QLD CD 011617

QLD CD 011618

QLD CD 011619

QLD CD 011620

QLD CD 011701

QLD CD 011702

QLD CD 011703

QLD CD 011704

QLD CD 011705

QLD CD 011706

QLD CD 011707

QLD CD 011708

QLD CD 011709

QLD CD 011710

QLD CD 011711

QLD CD 011712

QLD CD 011713

QLD CD 011714

QLD CD 011801

QLD CD 011802

QLD CD 011804

QLD CD 011805

QLD CD 011806

QLD CD 011807

QLD CD 011808

QLD CD 011809

QLD CD 011810

QLD CD 011811

QLD CD 011901

QLD CD 011902

QLD CD 011903

QLD CD 011904

QLD CD 011905

QLD CD 011906

QLD CD 011907

QLD CD 011908

QLD CD 011909

QLD CD 011912

QLD CD 011913

QLD CD 011914

QLD CD 011915

QLD CD 011916

QLD CD 011919

QLD CD 012012

QLD CD 012124

 

Note: 

Standard terminology used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics: 

 (CD)  =   Collection District

 


Attachment 3.2

LICENCE AREA PLAN : Cairns Radio -  September 2004

Category : Community

General Area Served : Cairns (QLD)

Service Licence Number : SL1150829

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio

Specification Number : TS10013927

Transmitter Site :-

Nominal location : Smithfield State High School   SMITHFIELD

Australian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing
Reference 55 360890 8140460

Site Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines

Emission :-

Frequency Band & Mode VHF-FM

Carrier Frequency : 101.9 MHz

Polarisation Vertical

Maximum antenna height 30 m

Output Radiation Pattern :-

Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction)

Maximum ERP

At all angles of azimuth

2 kW

 

 

Overview

The Broadcasting Services Act 1992, enacted in 1992, established a framework for the regulation of broadcasting services in Australia, addressing the need for a comprehensive legislative structure to govern broadcasting in a rapidly evolving media landscape. This Act aimed to provide for the licensing of broadcasting services, the allocation of radio frequencies, and the protection of the public interest through the regulation of content. The Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA), established under this Act, was tasked with administering the legislative framework, including the determination of licence area plans (LAP) for radio services. The ABA's role was to ensure that broadcasting services operate within the parameters set by the Act, promoting diversity, independence, and quality in broadcasting. In September 2004, the Australian Broadcasting Authority varied the licence area plan for radio in the Cairns region of Queensland under subsection 26(2) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. This variation aimed to update and refine the existing LAP to better meet the broadcasting needs of the region, including making channel capacity available for additional national, commercial, and community radio services, and adjusting the technical specifications of certain services to enhance coverage and service quality. The variation also involved redefining the licence areas of existing services and introducing new services based on the 2001 Census boundaries, ensuring that the LAP accurately reflected the demographic and geographic realities of the region.

Scope and Application

The Variation to Licence Area Plan Cairns (Radio) applies to the radio services operating in the Cairns region of Queensland. The legislation pertains to the availability and technical specifications of radio services, including national, commercial, community, and open narrowcasting services. The variation, made under subsection 26(2) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, introduces new services and modifies existing ones, thereby affecting radio broadcasters and service providers operating within the specified licence areas. The geographic scope of the Act is confined to the state of Queensland, specifically the Cairns region, and does not extend nationally. The variation redefines the licence areas of existing services and sets out new technical specifications, ensuring that broadcasters comply with the updated requirements. There are no stated exclusions or thresholds in this particular variation, though the application and enforcement of these changes may be subject to further regulations or guidelines issued by the Australian Broadcasting Authority.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of this legislation involve the variation of the licence area plan (LAP) for radio in the Cairns region of Queensland, determined under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA). Section 26(2) of the BSA allows the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) to vary the LAP. This variation, made in September 2004, provides for the availability of channel capacity for specific radio services, including two national radio services in Cairns and Cairns North, two FM transmitters for the 4CCA commercial radio service in Redlynch Valley and Little Mulgrave, an FM transmitter for an additional community radio service in Cairns, and an open narrowcasting service in Port Douglas. Additionally, it modifies the technical specifications of two commercial radio services in Mossman. The variation also redefines the licence areas of existing Cairns commercial and community radio services and defines the licence area of a new Cairns community radio service using 2001 Census boundaries. The variation imposes specific obligations on the parties governed by the LAP. For example, commercial and community radio services must adhere to the specified technical standards and service licence numbers as detailed in the schedules. National radio services, while not requiring a service licence, must comply with the defined technical specifications and licence areas. Open narrowcasting services must also follow the technical guidelines provided. Furthermore, all services must ensure their operations do not interfere with other broadcasting services and maintain a minimum median field strength level of 66 dBuV/m. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences mentioned in the document for breaches of the LAP. However, under the BSA, any non-compliance with broadcasting regulations could potentially lead to enforcement actions, including fines, suspension, or cancellation of broadcasting licences. The specific penalties would be determined by the ABA or a court, depending on the nature and severity of the breach.

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Area of Law
Media & Entertainment Law
Instrument
Legislative Instrument
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Definitions & Interpretation
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Regulatory Standards
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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.