Tower trouble

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
RESIDENTS are disgusted that they weren’t better informed about the application for a telecommunications tower on a hill overlooking Yarra Junction.
A planning organisation lodged the application for the development, on behalf of Telstra, in February but many residents said they were unaware of the application and were given little time to respond.
The planning permit is for a 35-metre monopole on top of Milners Hill, just off of Hoddle Street, with the surrounding trees just 20 metres high.
Milners Hill is 337m high, and only one kilometre from the town centre.
This is the third telecommunications tower in the last 12 months to come before Yarra Ranges Council.
The two previous applications for towers in Silvan and Seville were rejected by council. Marina Stewart, a resident of Hoddle St, said she moved to the area for its beautiful, natural appearance.
“We have a bird’s eye view of the hill from our place and we don’t want to look at it (a tower on the hill),” she said.
In the planning application Telstra sites the need to improve its 3G coverage for residents and tourists along the Warburton Highway, and reported that views from passers-by would be “fleeting”.
In the 11 May Yarra Ranges Council meeting, councillors unanimously voted against the application for a telecommunications tower in Silvan.
Konrad Chmielewski, who spoke against the Silvan application on behalf of 51 residents, had told council the number of objectors was increasing as more people became aware of the application.
“These residents have chosen to live in these rural areas and do without some of the services people in metropolitan areas have,” he said.
“And most of the 51 residents are willing to live with the service they currently have.”
Councillor Graham Warren said it did nothing for tourism.
Cr Tim Heenan said Telstra’s arguments were “gobbledygook”.
“We are talking about an area which has incredibly high scenic values to Yarra Ranges people who live there,” he said.
The council had received seven submissions against the Yarra Junction application when the Mail contacted them.
Council will continue to accept submissions for the Yarra Junction application beyond the closing date of 8 June, until councillors need to make a formal decision at an upcoming meeting.