RESIDENTS concerned with the construction of a mobile phone tower at the Point Walter Golf Course are calling for “fair” public consultation before any decisions are made.
Last week it was confirmed that a representative for Telstra lodged an application at the City of Melville for a 46m mobile phone tower to be installed at the golf course.
However, Bicton resident Susanne Taylor-Rees said that she and many other community members were opposed to any plans for a tower at the A-class reserve and said any public consultation would confirm that.
The application seeks approval for development of the tower at the base station at the golf course.
The tower would be a 46-metre tall multi-use telecommunications monopole, which would have at least six Telstra aerials and three or four others.
Ms Taylor-Rees said the location was only 250m from the closest house and on an A-class reserve, which needed to be protected.
“A telecommunications pole such as this is going to have a huge impact on the whole community and we want our opinions heard fairly,” she said.
Bicton resident Rod Brown said the lodgement of the application would allow the community to “actually start” focusing on forming opinion about this issue and committed the council to a public consultation process.
“This threat has been looming for eight or more years and there have been so many stops and starts but at every turn it has been strongly opposed by local residents and other visitors to Point Walter – and will be again.”
City of Melville chief executive Shayne Silcox said that the council would now review the application.
“If council agrees to the application being signed, the proposal will be advertised for public comment and referred to the council for considerations,” he said.
A Telstra spokeswoman said the company considered the City’s telecommunication policy, industry guidelines, required coverage and other technical objectives before selecting location.
“Telstra is committed to open and transparent consultation with local communities and in this instance expects to conduct community consultation via a development application co-ordinated by the local council,” she said.