Taylors Hill residents are celebrating their victory after Melton council denied Vodafone and Optus a permit to erect a 25-metre mobile phone tower in their “backyards”.
The controversial permit application was discussed at last week’s council meeting, with councillors Sophie Ramsey, Renata Cugliari, Lara Carli, Myles Bentley and Bob Turner all voting to deny the applicants a permit.
Councillors Kathy Majdlik and Nola Dunn were absent.
As reported by Star Weekly earlier this year, construction company Daly International, representing the two telcos, applied to
the council for a permit to erect a mobile phone tower at a Taylors Hill reserve, commonly known as the Melbourne water tank reserve.
Similar plans by telecommunications companies Orange and Telstra at the same location were defeated in 2001 and 2005, respectively.
Council’s planning and development general manager Luke Shannon told last week’s meeting there had been 53 objections to the permit application, including a petition with 134 signatures.
“Depending on the outcome, if council does indeed refuse, my [inclination] is that the carrier will get the message that perhaps this is not an appropriate site for such a facility,” Mr Shannon said.
Stavroula Singh, who led the campaign against
the mobile phone tower, told Star Weekly that residents would finally sleep in peace at night.
“We are very pleased that council refused the application,” Ms Singh said.
“It was really stressful because we didn’t know which way the council would vote.
“Hopefully, this sets a precedent for other applicants looking at the area, that this site is not suitable for a telecommunications facility,” she said.
Cr Carli congratulated residents who fought hard against the application, collecting signatures in rain and hail.
“In 2001, Taylors Hill residents said no. In 2005, Taylors Hill residents said no, and, again in 2015, Taylors Hill residents are saying no,” Cr Carli said.
“So I hope this sends a loud and clear message to telecommunication companies that we do not want it.”
A Vodafone spokeswoman said the two telcos would consider their options following the council’s decision.
