By KATH GANNAWAY
YARRA Ranges Council has approved construction of an Optus telecommunications tower at the Yarra Junction Recreation Reserve.
The proposal raised the ire of some Yarra Junction residents when it was first proposed in October last year with concerns voiced about the negative visual impact and health risks around radio emissions, as well as a lack of consultation.
An information evening in March resulted in Optus changing the location to a new site behind the bowling club on the basis it would minimise the visual intrusion.
Six of the seven councillors present at the Tuesday 28 June council meeting voted in line with the Planning Department recommendation to approve the planning application.
Peter Ferguson and Alex Maurici are among 45 sole objectors, supported by three petitions including one containing 239 signatures.
They spoke against the proposal, saying the 42 metre tower was at odds with a significant landscape overlay of the planning scheme and that the adverse visual effect would be ‘immense’.
Mr Ferguson labelled the tower an ‘eye-sore’ and said it was a possible foot in the door for further expansion.
He told the councillors that many parents were concerned about adverse health effects, and questioned the veracity of the use of a World Health Organisation (2006) article put forward by Optus at the March meeting.
Mr Maurici said the selection of the site was about money and not coverage, and proposed the RSL site further out of the town, which already has a tower, as the best option.
David Hodgkinson, representing Optus spoke of the need to balance competing needs.
“We go through a cautionary approach, select sites away from sensitive uses,” he said.
“It’s a balancing act; we need to line up a willing land-owner, planning, construction and coverage,” he said.
He said other sites were considered, including the RSL site, and were not adequate to provide coverage.
He added that electro magnetic energy (EME) was not a planning consideration, but said Optus equipment complied with strict regulation.
Cr Jim Child proposed the approval motion, saying it wasn’t an easy decision.
“We have to achieve a balance; we can’t just say we don’t like these towers,” he said.
He spoke of the Upper Yarra’s status as the most dangerous region in Victoria in terms of bushfire risk and said it should be a priority to provide digital communication to disaster-prone areas.
His safety first message was supported by councillors Avery, Callanan, McCarthy and Witlox who said telecommunication was paramount for community safety.
“When you are in a blackspot, you are in the dark ages,” Cr Avery said.
Cr Mike Clarke was a dissenting vote, saying more work should be done to look at the RSL site as an alternative.
“I certainly promote the need for mobile coverage and competition and providing service for bushfire safety,” he said.
“I just can’t see or hear any justification as to why they can’t use the (existing) RSL facility.”
