IT'S taken nearly five years but residents across the Liverpool Plains could expect to hear the sounds of their own public radio station by the end of the month.
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Tamworth Broadcasting Society, which operates 88.9FM, has been given the green light by the Australian Communications Media Authority (ACMA) to expand to the Liverpool Plains.
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"Expansion out to the Liverpool Plains has been in the works since 2015 and we're very excited it's now in the final stages," Mr Frame said.
"We've eventually got everything agreed, across the line and have done all the technical tests.
"We've been very lucky that we've got the majority of the equipment already here and ready to go.
"Our intent is to bring a regional voice to right across the Liverpool Plains and we are a step closer to doing that."
Mr Frame said listeners could potentially listen to the service via their own frequency of 96.3FM "by the end of the month".
"Obviously it is a bit of a difficult time for us all now, but at this stage we have got all of the gear together," he said.
"I reckon we could be on the air by the end of the month.
"We just have a couple of things we need to add to the gear we have and according to ACMA, we have to run it for two weeks and then invite for public feedback if people have any problems with it.
"We're confident we won't have any problems with it and after that we will be away."
Liverpool Plains mayor Andrew Hope said the community's new radio service would be transmitted from the top of Quirindi's Who'd-A-Thought-It-Lookout.
"Discussions between the parties have been ongoing for over four years, but we were held up waiting for ACMA to allocate a frequency and licence for the transmission of 88.9FM across the region," Cr Hope said.
"There will certainly be a lot of benefits to having a public radio service such as 88.9FM in our region."
Mr Frame said while the COVID-19 pandemic had created some delays in the station's community engagement, there was many things planned once the coronaviurs threat passes.
"We are still very much committed to engaging with the local community," he said.
"We've had many conversations with the council and the high school to allow students the chance to gain some exposure to radio and media.
"Whether that's a course or something similar, we are not sure, but we are certainly looking forward to the pandemic passing and engaging with the community."