Residents lose phone tower fight

By Paul Dunlop
A GIANT phone tower has been approved for Pakenham despite the protests of a local mum and neighbours.
Dianne Bristol led opposition to the 40metre tower proposed by Telstra to be installed in Henry Road, on the western fringe of town.
Ms Bristol and residents from four other nearby properties lodged objections with the Cardinia Shire Council, claiming the tower would be an eyesore and a potential health hazard.
But councillors unanimously approved Telstra’s permit application.
The decision was made without discussion at the council’s town planning meeting on Monday.
The tower, said by Ms Bristol to be the equivalent height of a 12storey building, will be the biggest seen in the area.
The mother of two young girls was disappointed with the council’s decision, but said she was not surprised.
“It’s one of those things. I guess it was always going to go ahead,” Ms Bristol said.
“It’s disappointing. I had hoped council would knock it back, but I sort of had the feeling it would go ahead.
“Phone towers are basically preapproved by the State and Federal Governments. You can’t really beat them,” she said.
Councillors agreed with town planning staff that the phone tower should be approved, subject to conditions.
The tower will be painted green/grey and extensive tree planting is to soften its impact on the local landscape.
Town planners admitted the measures would not be able to completely hide the tower, saying in their report that it would be particularly visible from along nearby Cardinia Road.
But the officer’s report to the council meeting said the tower met principles for the design, siting, construction and operation of telecommunications facilities.
“On balance, the proposal is not considered to have a significant impact on the environmental values and with appropriate construction materials is recommended to be supported, subject to conditions,” town planners said.
Ms Bristol said she and partner, Craig, would now have the view from their back yard blocked by the phone tower.
She said she was also extremely worried about electro magnetic energy (EME) emissions and their impact on her young family.
“My biggest concern is about the health of my children,” Ms Bristol said.
When the proposal was first mooted, Telstra area general manager Jane Oakley said the new phone tower would help to improve services in the fastgrowing Pakenham district.
Ms Oakley said 50 years of scientific research had shown there was nothing to suggest lowlevel EME emissions, such as those produced by mobile phones, would produce adverse health effects.
The council was told the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal had previously indicated public health concerns about EME emissions were not considered appropriate grounds for refusing a permit.
An officer’s report to the council meeting said Telstra had stated the proposal would operate well within health standards.
Ms Oakley said the new tower would provide better coverage for phone users outside and indoors.
“Almost nine out of 10 people own a mobile phone these days and being mobile is now a necessity for businesspeople,” she said.