Taralga wind farm

TV Reception

Television Update - September 2026

4G interference and household television reception

Following extensive technical investigations in Taralga, Pacific Hydro identified that the 4G signal transmitted from the local mobile phone tower was interfering with television reception at some properties. This interference does not originate from Taralga Wind Farm or its television retransmission equipment. The most effective solution identified was a 4G filter fitted to the household television aerial system. As a gesture of goodwill, Pacific Hydro funded the installation of these filters, together with necessary aerial and cabling repairs, at a number of properties with which we had been regularly engaging.
 

If you are experiencing television reception issues that may be caused by 4G interference, please contact us. We can provide the details of an antenna contractor who may be able to assess your individual situation and advise whether a 4G filter or other repairs are appropriate.

Temporary changeover to satellite television

Pacific Hydro’s television retransmission tower ordinarily receives the local broadcast signal from the Knights Hill tower near Wollongong. During periods of inclement weather or atmospheric ducting, this incoming signal may become temporarily unstable. Atmospheric ducting is a weather-related phenomenon that can cause distant television signals to travel farther than usual and interfere with the signal the tower is trying to receive.

When this occurs, our equipment automatically changes over to the national satellite backup service used across regional and remote Australia. This ensures residents can continue to receive television services, consistent with our planning permit obligations. We understand that the Taralga community prefers local programming. Once stable reception from Knights Hill returns, the system automatically returns to the local broadcast.

Pacific Hydro does not control the signal available from Knights Hill. However, significant replacement and upgrade works completed in late 2025 have improved the ability of our equipment to receive and retransmit that signal as reliably as possible, reducing how often the satellite backup service is required.

For further information about mobile phone tower interference, 4G filters and atmospheric ducting, visit the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s guidance on television reception problems and solutions.
 

Television Update – March 2026 - Upgrade Complete

Pacific Blue is pleased to report that the Taralga Television Retransmitter was repaired and the parts that were damaged by a lightning strike have now been replaced.

Testing by our contractor is indicating strong signal quality across all channels.

If some channels are not available, we recommend performing a ‘retune’ of your television through the settings menu on the TV. 

If you continue to experience any issues, please advise us by emailing [email protected].

Television Update – December 2025

Late last week, Pacific Blue was advised of intermittent reception issues affecting Channel 7 services in Taralga. Following notification, our technical team undertook investigations to identify the cause of the disruption.

These investigations have confirmed that the transmission tower has been struck by lightning, resulting in damage to a specific component that now requires replacement. Unfortunately, this component has a lead time of approximately six weeks. Based on current advice from the supplier, we expect delivery and installation to occur in February 2026. While arranging this replacement, Pacific Blue has also taken the opportunity to order an additional spare part. This will help reduce resolution time in the future should the tower experience further lightning-related damage.

Our investigations also indicate that reception issues may be more noticeable during wet or damp weather conditions. In dry conditions, services are expected to operate as normal until the replacement part is installed.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this issue may cause and acknowledge that the timing, particularly over the Christmas period and summer holidays, is disruptive. We appreciate the patience shown by the community while this matter is being resolved. We will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available and once the replacement has been completed and services are restored. In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like to discuss the issue further, please contact our team on [email protected].

We would also like to thank the Taralga community for their patience and understanding as we have worked through television reception issues over the course of this year. We wish everyone a safe Christmas period and all the best for the start of 2026.

Pacific Blue maintains a television retransmission device that is designed to help boost television signal for the nearby townships. This device was installed in early November 2015. It is designed to receive signal from a broadcasting tower in Wollongong and boost the signal for local households that depend on rooftop aerials to receive television.

Pacific Blue was informed by the community that they were experiencing poor television signal strength and interruption to their broadcasts. The Taralga community have told us that this is primarily impacting commercial channels, such as Channel 9 (and associated 9 Entertainment-owned channels, such as 9Life and GO!), Prime7 channels (including 7 Network-owned channels, such as 7TWO and 7MATE), and the SBS-owned channels.  

In September 2025, Pacific Blue worked with the local community to overhaul and upgrade the equipment at the Taralga Television Retransmission Tower. This required the television signal to undergo an outage for roughly two days, while all key components were upgraded to more modern equipment than those that were installed ten-years ago.

We acknowledge that this disruption was inconvenient for residents, and we are grateful for the patience shown by the Taralga community. These upgrades were undertaken to support the long-term, stable television reception that Taralga deserves, and we are hopeful that residents will now see an improvement.

If you continue to experience issues, we recommend first attempting to ‘re-scan’ or ‘re-tune’ your television in the settings menu.

Please note that while the upgrade works have been completed, there are still certain factors beyond Pacific Blue’s control that may affect reception. For example, strong rainfall between Wollongong and Taralga or gale-force weather conditions may disrupt signal. However, with the new equipment, we are now better placed to monitor these events and determine what may be contributing to reception issues.

Community members wishing to alert Pacific Blue to potential issues with the Taralga Television Retransmission Tower are encouraged to lodge a report by emailing: [email protected]

We sincerely thank the community for their collaboration, patience, engagement, and kindness to our staff as we undertook this important upgrade.

Learn about the Taralga wind farm

The 106.8 MW wind farm is located within the Southern Tablelands of NSW in the Taralga township. The project comprises of 51 turbines, with a hub height of 80 m above ground level.

Since operation in 2015 the Project has generated enough clean electricity to supply approximately 38,000 houses and abates approximately 240,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

Pacific Blue, through Eco Logical Australia, manage a biobank site to the south of the wind farm. Management actions include, but are not limited to, weed control, planting or seeding, retention of native vegetation, control of pests and management of fire for conservation.

For any offset credit enquires, please email [email protected]