Cyclone Ita is providing a threat to Cooktown’s Rebel 99.3 transmitter tonight with its wild winds predicted to be faster than the transmitter was designed to with stand.
 
Aaron Jowitt from the North Queensland station explains, “Our site was engineered to withstand 205 km/h winds, but we are expecting up to 300 km/h and plenty of flying debris.”
 
The Rebel tower and dish, which stand on Mt Tully, 5km west of Cooktown are an icon to the town and provide the only commercial signal to the area.
 
The station was expected to play a role in emergency broadcasts for the area but urges listeners to turn to ABC Local broadcasting on 105.7 if their signal is lost.
 
“The local ABC site is located further down within town and more likely to stay operational. It broadcasts on 105.7 FM. If both ABC & Rebel FM services are off-air post Ita, for crucial emergency broadcast information please try fringe distance reception of ABC Cairns on 801 AM in the first instance, or possibly ABC Townsville 630 AM. Our thoughts are with you – please stay safe.”