AN Optus telecommunications tower has been approved for Charlestown, against the wishes of more than 40 surrounding residents.
The proposal was voted on after a lively debate by Lake Macquarie councillors on Monday night, with the discussion centred around the impact of the tower on residents versus the need for better phone and internet reception in the area. The site was also chosen after another nearby location was investigated and ruled out following community consultation.
Fourty-two residents had made submissions against the Optus tower being built at 51 Lees Street. The closest house is about 60 metres away and a child care centre and primary school are located within 500 metres of the site.
Resident Andrew Tiller addressed the council meeting, saying the tower was almost four times higher than the maximum height allowed under the local environment plan and double the height of surrounding trees, and the proposal allowed for further expansion.
"It will be visually obtrusive in all directions for many kilometres," he said.
Other concerns were around radiation emissions, perceived impact on property values, and the site being a Landcare location along with a green space and animal habitat.
But Mark Byrnes from Commplan who spoke on behalf of Optus said the site had been chosen after a long process, which began in 2015 and when another site on Algona Road was proposed, but later quashed after the community objected to it.
He said the current site was chosen as a result of a workshop with various community stakeholders held through that consultation.
"The main outcome of that workshop was that the community and other community stakeholders thought that it would be better off to move the facility from 43A Algona Road to the location on Lees Street," Mr Byrnes said.
Mr Byrnes also said the demand for mobile phone reception was increasing, and had spiked particularly through the pandemic due to people working and learning from home.
"As a consequence of that sharp increase in demand, there was a lot of network failures," he said.
Councillor Barney Langford unsuccessfully put up an amendment for the matter to be deferred pending a site inspection.
He questioned Mr Byrnes on how many residents had asked for the proposal to be moved to Lees Street, and was told there were 12 at the workshop, not all of whom approved of the Lees Street site.
"It's a bit of a stretch isn't it to say the community supported this," Mr Langford said, prompting a warning from Mayor Kay Fraser about not debating the issue during public forum.
Many councillors commended the idea of a site inspection but voted against it as the timing of the upcoming council election meant the matter would not return to council until February.
"By delaying this decision until some time in the early part of 2022, I don't think it serves the best interests of the community, including those who are objecting or the best interests of the proponent," councillor Brian Adamthwaite said.
"The circumstances call for us to make a decision tonight."
Councillor Adam Schultz spoke against the amendment for similar reasons, but ultimately voted for it.
The original motion was won, with only councillors Langford, John Gilbert and Colin Grigg voting against it.
Councillor Kevin Baker said he had been contacted by many residents in the area about troubles with phone reception, which had been exacerbated by COVID-19.
"We have more and more people working from home, that's something that's going to hang around," he said.
"As more and more people come to our locality... we need to make sure we have the infrastructure of the future."
