The ABC has announced that major maintenance work will commence next week at its Sydney transmitter site, which will affect three ABC AM radio services: 702 ABC Sydney, ABC Radio National and ABC NewsRadio.

All three services will be temporarily switched off from midnight to 5am from Tuesday 22 July through to Saturday 26 July 2003 so that work can take place at the Liverpool site.

Colin Knowles, the ABC’s Director of Technology and Distribution, explains:

“This maintenance work is essential to improve the quality and reliability of these services. The transmitter has been in service for many years and the time has come to undertake an overhaul, which can only be carried out after turning it off. We are seeking to avoid as much inconvenience to our audience as possible by undertaking this work during the early hours of the morning… we apologise for these breaks in transmission and we thank our audience for their patience and support.”

During these breaks in transmission southern and south-western Sydney residents may be able to listen to the ABC’s Illawarra Local Radio service by retuning to 97.3FM, while those who live in the northern suburbs may be able to listen to the ABC’s Central Coast Local Radio service based in Gosford on 92.5FM. Both of these services have the same overnight program as 702 ABC Sydney.

North of Sydney, Radio National may be heard via its Newcastle transmitter on 1512AM. To the south and southwest, some homes will be able to pick up the Wollongong transmission of Radio National on 1431AM.

Those with Internet access can also listen to their favourite programs online on the ABC’s website.