Phone tower in the middle of Mirboo North?

A PLANNING application has been made to the South Gippsland Council for a 25-metre-high mobile phone tower to be installed in the township of Mirboo North. 

The proposed location for the tower is 40 Burchell Lane, an industrial zone that is directly adjacent to the Mirboo North Men’s Shed, which is also made available for community use.

The tower will be visible from numerous aspects of the township and while properties surrounding the area are primarily commercial and business operations, there are a few homes that overlook the site. 

Jean Belstead lives in one of these homes and her sitting room window would directly face the tower if it were built, but the view isn’t her only concern; objecting to the build. 

“I was told that 150 metres away is considered “safe”, but I question that it would be that far away,” Jean said. 

“I am sensitive to EMF frequencies, (I get) head pain, as well as quite a number of my friends. So, I’m concerned about that, as well as the detrimental, unwanted view,” Jean stated. 

“It will look monstrously atrocious sticking up bang outside my sitting room window.” 

Waveconn is the applicant of the project; and is a developer and investor in digital telecommunications infrastructure in Australia. 

The enterprise states that any emissions from the tower will be below the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency Standards. 

They also state in their application that the tower will have a significant impact on the availability of mobile service coverage and connectivity for users in and around the town; and that recent natural disasters, have highlighted the importance of, and need for, improved telecommunications services in the area. 

However, local woman Jeanette White isn’t buying that line, and as well as, Jean, stated that she has good mobile phone coverage most of the time.

“I guess from my perspective, the permit has some weaknesses, no mention of the Dickies Hill tower which provides excellent mobile coverage (visible from the main street of Mirboo North); the lack of AI-generated images to show the true visual impact on the town (how hard can that be in this day and age), and also the rationale of increasing connectivity during emergencies (a constant reference to February storms). The reality is that when the power goes out, and the batteries go flat, all towers are affected,” said Jeanette. 

However, some locals are in favour of the tower and believe it will ultimately benefit the community.  

“When 5G is rolled out more and more, the need will be there for towers to be closer; as 5G does not have the same coverage area, and all future frequencies will have less and less coverage area,” explained local man James McFadyen. 

“Also, you run into the issue of too many users on a tower so it’s good to separate them so a tower isn’t overloaded.” 

“There are some downsides like everything but unfortunately with the digital world we have now this kind of infrastructure is needed.”

The Waveconn application states that existing facilities in the area do not provide sufficient mobile coverage within the town and the tower will address this deficiency, particularly when proceeding to 5G.

The cost of the tower is pegged at $100,000 and the application to council was submitted on June 6, 2024.

Objections to the planning application can be made in writing to Council prior to Thursday, August 1, 2024.