A PROPOSAL to construct a 40-metre fixed wireless broadband tower on White Hill Road, Bouvard was rejected by Committee on Tuesday.
A recommendation was put to the Planning, Community Development and Sustainability Committee that the NBN Co monopole be placed on Lot 1 Number 7 White Hill Road to facilitate the NBN rollout.
Once erected, the tower would be available for other telecommunications companies to attach their own equipment.
The report sited the tower in a fenced compound of 140sqm in the north western corner of the two-hectare lot, after one resident gave permission for NBN Co to use the land.
However, the proposal has met with fierce opposition from White Hill Road residents as well as various councillors and local politicians.
Earlier in the year Council received 12 formal complaints from residents opposing the plan on the basis that the tower would impact on the environment, impair visual appearance and noise, and could pose health risks.
Three residents presented deputations to Tuesday’s committee.
“We are totally opposed to the installation of a tower,” one resident said.
Residents said although they were made aware of NBN Co holding a community consultation in November last year, they did not realise the company was planning to build a 40 metre tower nearby.
“We thought, as it still says on NBN Co’s website, that fibre-optic cables would be put in, not a tower,” a resident said. With the backing of Member for Dawesville Kim Hames and Mandurah MLA David Templeman, residents suggested a more suitable location for the tower was at 15 Yalgorup Drive, adjacent to the Optus tower.
Dr Hames said he strongly opposed the proposal, “due to the detrimental impact it will have on the visual amenity of this bushland area.”
Mr Templeman, who fought the installation of a monopole on Lakes Road earlier in the year, said he was “very concerned” about the processes involved in the location of telecommunications monopoles.
A spokesperson for the NBN said “To deliver the level of service we are targeting it does mean some new sites need to be established.
“NBN Co explored the possibility of co-locating on the existing Optus facility on Yalgorup Road however due to the height of the structure our coverage objectives would simply not be achieved.”
Cr Don Pember proposed to move an alternative recommendation to deny NBN permission to construct the tower.
City of Mandurah executive Mark Newman said if the Committee chose to pass an alternative recommendation opposing the tower, the City could take a hit of about $30,000 in legal costs.
“If we are going to refuse we need to make this recommendation as rock solid as possible because it’s going to be a hard fight,” Mr Newman said.
An alternative recommendation opposing the installation of the monopole was carried unanimously.
All decisions are subject to the Ordinary Council meeting on November 26.