By Casey Neill
TELSTRA is considering a VCAT appeal after Yarra Ranges Council knocked back plans for a new phone tower in Silvan.
The shire received 22 objections to the proposal on grazing land in Chapman Road, which would feature a 35 metre tall pole.
Residents said the tower would have a negative visual affect on the area, devalue homes and they were concerned radioactive emissions posed a health risk.
But Telstra’s Melbourne general manager Patrick O’Beirne said the location was well considered and was disappointed with the decision.
“Because it means that, we can’t improve the network,” he said.
“We do it to improve capacity and reliability for customers.”
Mr O’Beirne said Telstra was determining its next move. “The normal next process is to go to VCAT,” he said.
“But I can’t be sure what’s going to happen.”
Mr O’Beirne said safety was also a consideration in proposing the tower.
“People are making more and more calls to triple zero from mobiles,” he said.
He also said the State Government would send SMS warnings in bushfire emergencies.
At last Tuesday’s council meeting, Konrad Chmielewski spoke on behalf of 51 residents who he said were personally affected by the proposal and strongly objected.
“These residents have chosen to live in this rural area and do without some of these services people in metropolitan areas have,” he said.
“Most of the 51 residents are willing to live with the service they presently have.”
However, town planner Matt Evans, speaking for Telstra at the meeting, said the telco would not invest in the facility without demand.
“To suggest there is no demand or emerging demand in that area is way off the mark,” he said.
Mr Evans said the facility was set back from the street, and a 21-metre high tree line would limit the visual impact.
He also said emissions from the tower would be 400 times below the required Federal Government mandated standard.
But Chandler Ward councillor Graham Warren moved that the council refuse the application.
He said the proposal was inconsistent with the shire planning scheme’s landscaping policies and would have a detrimental visual impact.
“Residents have been fairly strong in their wish to not have this to look at every morning,” he said.
Cr Warren also pointed to health risks.
“The World Health Organisation says there’s no substantial body of evidence that it hurts health – the word substantial is interesting,” he said.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn said the area had incredibly high scenic value to people who live and visit there.
“A pole which stands 14 metres above the treeline does nothing for it,” she said.
Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff said the tower could affect regional marketing.
“We’re really pushing hard to protect the clean and green brand the shire has,” he said. “It is important that wherever we can, we have to protect it against these damn ugly things.”
