By Mikayla Van Loon
Despite the growing need for improved telecommunications coverage across the Yarra Ranges, councillors refused a permit application for Chirnside Park’s green wedge.
The application by Indara for a monopole to be built at 8 Meadow Fair Way was denied on Tuesday 23 April, with Cr Richard Higgins submitting an alternative recommendation and said the green wedge was “a very important area that we maintain”.
Speaking on behalf of a collective of 37 objectors, Jeff Snow said “please consider that this is people’s homes”.
“We are talking about places we have lived in and nurtured for many years,” he said.
Mainly opposed to the “significant visual impact”, Mr Snow showed a range of images showing the view from people’s backyards, front yards and driveways.
“We believe that this structure does not conform to the intent of the Green Wedge A zone guidelines, the intent being to protect the scenic landscapes, to ensure the siting and design of new buildings complements the setting and reinforces the rural landscape
“To maintain the appearance of uninterrupted forest and backdrop to views and to recognise and protect the amenity of existing rural residential areas and to protect the visual impact of views from adjoining roads.
“In our opinion, this tower meets none of these aspirations. Its height is 38 metres to the top of the equipment and that is more than twice the existing surrounding canopy.”
Indara put forward the proposal to be a co-located tower, meaning it could service all customers, with the three main providers using the location “to cater for local demands on the mobile network which continue to increase exponentially”.
A representative from Indara, a Mr Evans, said the Chirnside Park population equated to 12,000 people, 9000 adults, with “mobile penetration of about 98 to 99 per cent”.
“We wouldn’t be willing to invest in an area and to build a couple of facilities if there wasn’t demand for that,” he said.
He also referred to a recently overturned decision at VCAT for a telecommunications tower to be erected on Queens Road in Silvan, to improve safety in an emergency.
“We’re really conscious of the need for resilient telecommunication services during extreme weather and other events,” he said.
“It’s a key objective of the Yarra Ranges’ advocacy program seeking to attract investment from neutral host companies like Indara. This facility will have a battery backup. It will also use underground power which will contribute to resilience during these events.”
Putting forward the refusal of the permit, Cr Higgins said “it’s not often I actually speak against getting a telecommunication tower.
“In 2012 the council put forward and rightly so put in place Yarra Ranges Council telecommunications facilities paper and in that the policy objectives one of them is … to reduce the visual impact of telecommunications facilities,” he said.
“And ensure that the type, scale, design and sitting of the telecommunications is not detrimental to the landscape.”
Cr Higgins said, given recent approvals for Paynes Road and the Chirnside Park Country Club telecommunications towers, he believed there were better locations to provide better coverage to the urban area.
The alternative recommendation was supported by all councillors, despite the common need for better communication facilities in the whole shire.
“I’m torn on this one … I’m mindful of the need for telecommunications…I support the alternative recommendation,” Cr Andrew Fullagar said.
“I’m going to do something that I’ve never done before and that is actually support the refusal of this application. I’m a huge advocate of telecommunications coverage. I think it’s really critical for us across our municipality,” Cr Fiona McAlister said.
“I think the piece for me that’s missing is the compelling reason, the demand, the need.”
These moments of support from the councillors were met with applause and cheers from the gallery, where numerous residents from the Meadow Fair Way area sat.
The refusal of the tower was supported unanimously.
