Taylors Hill residents are continuing their fight against a mobile phone tower close to their homes.
The campaign vow follows Vodafone’s decision to take Melton council to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after the telco was denied a permit.
Earlier this year, Star Weekly revealed plans by construction company Daly International, representing Vodafone and Optus, to erect a 25-metre mobile phone tower at a reserve commonly known as the Melbourne water tank reserve.
Similar plans for the reserve by Orange and Telstra were defeated in 2001 and 2005.
Melton council refused Daly International a permit to erect a mobile phone tower following 53 objections to the application, along with a petition with 134 signatures.
But last month, residents received a letter from law firm K&L Gates, representing Vodafone, about an application lodged at VCAT to review Melton council’s refusal for a planning permit.
Resident Stavroula Singh, who has been spearheading the campaign against the tower, said she was “frustrated” but not shocked Vodafone would take the matter to the tribunal.
“I know residents are concerned and we are looking at what our options are in terms of the case going to VCAT,” Ms Singh said.
“[Vodafone] has the right to take it further, but it’s definitely frustrating that we’re having to again show why we think this location is not suitable.”
Ms Singh said residents were not opposed to a mobile phone tower in Taylors Hill but were worried about the proximity of the proposed location to residential homes.
The site plan submitted by Vodafone to Melton council showed the proposed site for the tower was behind numbers 23 and 25 on Timele Drive.
A Vodafone spokeswoman said “extensive” site selection processes were carried out and the proposed location was found to be the “most suitable in order to improve mobile services”.
“The Melton area has one of the highest rankings in Australia for complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman for poor mobile coverage, and we’re committed to improving services for local residents and businesses,” she said.
A VCAT hearing has been set for 10am on March 31, 2016.
People wanting to make a submission to council or VCAT must do so before Tuesday, November 10.
