A GROUP of residents and businesses has slammed a Macedon Ranges Council decision to approve plans for a 25-metre mobile phone tower in the New Gisborne industrial precinct.
The Telstra telecommunications tower will be built at Ladd Road, New Gisborne. The council gave the project the green light at its planning meeting last Wednesday night.
Forty-nine objections were received by the council, but a request to hold a public meeting to discuss various issues was rejected by Telstra. Cate Rejman, who runs Fred's Fodder Stockfeed & Supplies on the site of the proposed tower, said residents had not been given a chance to have their concerns heard.
"I was very disappointed in the council process," Ms Rejman said.
"And especially the arrogance of Telstra as an organisation that feels it does not need to talk to any of the concerned people.
"The residents in particular [now] need to look at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal as an option to appeal."
Ms Rejman and her husband, Eddy, handed out more than 100 letters to nearby residents late last month and circulated a petition in the area.
At last week's meeting, Ms Rejman said the phone tower would be better placed in the recently announced $2.1million extension of the New Gisborne industrial estate, which would take it further away from residents.
As it stands, the nearest home will be 70metres away from the tower.
"We, as a group, are not against mobile phone towers. We are against it being in our backyards."
New Gisborne's Livinia Natoli has three boys under nine and lives in Chessy Park estate, about 300metres from the site.
She said the phone tower flew in the face of the family's decision to move to the country.
"Our objection is based on the potential health risks to us and our young family.
"It is not a calculated risk we are willing to take on our kids.
"We do not want to be guinea pigs."
Council planning and development manager Rick Traficante endorsed the tower development, saying it complied with all guidelines.
He said the tower would enhance telecommunication coverage in the area, and was in a suitable location in an industrial zone.
Cr Joan Donovan, who voted in favour of the project, said the tower would provide a significant benefit to the community and businesses.
Enhanced coverage would also be vital during the coming fire season, she added.
Last month, the council knocked back a similar proposal for a 35-metre phone tower proposal in Romsey, just 500metres from the Romsey Primary School.
Optus has since signalled its intention to appeal against the decision at VCAT.
Councillors Joe Morabito and Roger Jukes voted against the Telstra tower. "It's no different from the one in Romsey. The only difference is that in Romsey it was practically next to a school," Cr Morabito said.
"I believe that we should err on the side of caution and not be throwing caution to the wind." Cr Jukes said Telstra should have allowed the community to have its say in a public forum.
"I find grounds enough to refuse the application."
Mayor John Letchford said residents' concerns were misplaced.
He said televisions and microwaves emitted more radiation than mobile phone towers. There was no scientific proof of negative health effects of such towers.
Cr Letchford also said that precedents set at VCAT in similar cases meant that any decision to reject the proposal would probably be overturned by the tribunal.
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