Some of the residents in Victoria and Highclere Sts, Warragul, are questioning why a new 26.3 metre high mobile communications tower and six antenna should be built in Victoria St and will lodge objections to a planning application before Baw Baw shire council. Some of them were on the proposed site last week, from left, Ross Dawson, Anthea Dacy, Reg and Judy Dixon, Geoff and Barbara Willingham and Rob Sinnett say the tower will dwarf current antennas on a light pole (at rear) the new facility will supersede.
A number of objections will be lodged opposing installation of a mobile telephone tower and antennas in Victoria St, Warragul.
Some residents living in Highclere and Victoria Sts are concerned at several aspects of a planning application on behalf of Telstra seeking Baw Baw Shire approval.
As well as the likely visual impacts of the 26.3-metre high pole for nearby residents and users of Civic Park and the civic centre, three objectors The Gazette has spoken with are concerned about impacts of radio frequency radiation emissions from the equipment.
Residents of Highclere St that runs parallel to Victoria St on the eastern side of the proposed site, Ross Dawson and Robert Sinnett, and Victoria St resident Frank Spiteri, whose house is directly opposite the location, said the application did not stipulate the level of emissions or whether they would meet standards set by the World Health Organisation.
Mr Sinnett said he wanted reassurance there would be no possible detrimental health issues.
He said he believed an alternative location “out of town” but still able to provide the necessary transmission coverage should be considered.
The planned mobile telephone station would provide 5G level communications technology.
Located on land owned by the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland at 92 Victoria St the monopole would have six panel antennas with a new base station installed at ground level.
The installation would replace a current mobile communications transceiver located on a nearby light pole in Victoria St.
Mr Dawson said property owners in the area were given only about a fortnight to consider the plans and make an objection – the closing date was Tuesday of last week - and his request for an on-site meeting with shire officers did not happen because, he said, he was told the planning department was under-staffed.
He said he was also concerned the location of the tower as shown in the 75-page application did not match pegs recently installed on the site and that the height of the pole would cast shadows over the solar panels installed on his house.
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