When cyclones, floods, or bushfires threaten the Gold Coast and its hinterland, reliable communication can be the difference between safety and disaster. In these critical moments, mobile phone towers and other standard communication networks can become overloaded or fail entirely. It is for this reason that the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society proudly owns, operates, and maintains a vital piece of public safety infrastructure: the VK4RGC UHF CB emergency repeater.
Strategically located atop Springbrook, this powerful repeater listens for transmissions on UHF CB Channel 5—the designated emergency channel in Australia—and re-broadcasts them with greater power across an enormous footprint, covering the entire Gold Coast, south to Byron Bay and north to the Sunshine Coast. This allows a low-power handheld or vehicle radio, which might otherwise only reach a few kilometres, to communicate over vast distances.
This repeater is a lifeline for everyone. It can be used by stranded motorists in the hinterland, boaties off the coast, isolated residents during a natural disaster, and the emergency services themselves to coordinate responses. Maintaining this equipment 24/7, 365 days a year is one of our most important contributions to the region. It is a testament to our core mission of using our skills and resources not just for hobby, but for the safety and well-being of the entire Gold Coast community.
