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  About Rhema Upper Hunter

Rhema FM Upper Hunter is a proposed re-transmission of the 100% Christian format from Newcastle into the Upper Hunter region of Upper Hunter, Aberdeen, Scone, Merriwa and surrounding districts.

Rhema FM has had a long term vision and dream in God to bring Christian radio to the Upper Hunter, a dream that dates back to 1994. This dream was delayed by Rhema Newcastle’s 14 year bid to win the permanent licence in Newcastle which happened in December 1999.

Following this was the large job of establishing Rhema on a permanent basis. In 2001 the opportunity for a completely separate licence in Gosford and that licence was finally won in October 2004.

Gaining a frequency and licence to broadcast in the Upper Hunter particularly at Upper Hunter, is entirely different to the winning the permanent licences in Newcastle and Gosford. Both these areas licences were offered for specific frequencies for the ‘Interested parties’ to apply for and they were awarded according to the ability of the applicants to fulfill the Australian Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and meet the manifest demands of the ‘community’.

In the Case of Upper Hunter, we have held preliminary discussions with ACMA (The Australian Communication & Media Authority) regards them reviewing the LAP (Licence Area Plan) for Upper Hunter (which begins just after Singleton in the East and to Merriwa in the West and almost to Quirindi in the North.

We requested ACMA to consider extending the LAP for Upper Hunter, in order to permit Rhema FM Newcastle to re-broadcast our transmission signal into Upper Hunter and surrounding districts at a higher power output thus dramatically improving reception. In fact it is our plan to locate a transmitter at Mount Arthur, just South of Upper Hunter. Rhema FM has approval from the energy organisation ‘Transgrid Australia’ to locate on their tower.

We have completed an estimated ‘costing analysis’ on establishing a re-transmission site at Upper Hunter at an approximate cost of $55,000.

Please note that a re-transmission of our Newcastle broadcast to the Upper Hunter is by far the best and cheapest option. There would be no need to establish studios at Upper Hunter.

To give you an idea, it was required by law to establish not only an entirely separate broadcast in Gosford but also separate broadcast studios, staff and volunteers, because a frequency was on public offer. The cost of this almost amounted to $100,000 over a 4 year period and was very labour and human resources intensive.

As stated already in the case of Upper Hunter, we have now sought ACMA’s approval for a re-transmission via a ‘translator’ as detailed in a submission before them now. We will also conduct the research into locating an available and unused frequency by using the large and respected Queensland organisation ‘Radspec’ who are an approved organisation by ACMA.

There are several cases around the country including one of our sister stations Rhema FM Canberra, where ACMA gave approval to not just one extra frequency but two (2) additional frequencies to re-broadcast in the ACT region. Such a precedent also exists in the Upper Hunter whereby Mt. Helen FM broadcast on 101.7 MHz (FM) and 107.3 MHz. This is good news, having granted it before they can hardly refuse another request without good justification.

What is needed now is letter’s of support from all Christian Churches in the Upper Hunter area along with individuals, Federal MP’s, Christian businesses etc.