Omarama residents will be able to hear more news and music from the outside world when a repaired radio transmitter is switched on later this month.
The Cloud Hill transmitter broke down in 2008, which left Omarama residents stuck with only one radio channel, but Omarama Residents Association member Jemma Gloag said repairs to the transmitter, paid for by an $8000 grant from Meridian Energy, had been been completed and a switch-on date of May 22 was targeted.
The failure of the transmitter, because of storm damage and the technical failure of old equipment, meant residents had only been able to receive Timaru-based Port FM for the past five years.
Mrs Gloag said ''a lot of people'' had been waiting to get a choice of radio stations.
National news, weather forecasts and topical discussions, in particular, had been sorely missed, she said.
