Tower ticks all boxes

By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
MONBULK residents can expect better coverage with a telephone tower application that was passed following the council’s frustration with telcos failing to follow the rules.
The tower application ticks all the boxes to comply with the strict standards of the telecommunications policy by allowing three bodies to co-locate on the one pole, which is tucked into a highly vegetated area and does not sit on a ridgeline.
It follows the council rejecting at least five Telstra tower applications over two years throughout the Yarra Ranges, telling the telcos to “get real” with their applications and recognise the council’s commitment towards tourism (Towers’ bad reception, 29 March 2011).
Councillors were excited to pass the application for the Monbulk tower at last Tuesday’s, 24 April, council meeting.
The application is for an upgrade to the tower to make it more structurally sound, increase the height by five metres, and allow Optus and Vodaphone to co-locate and improve their 3G and wireless internet services for customers.
The council will also benefit, being able to provide better digital signal for the transfer from the current analogue television service.
There was one objection to the application regarding the extra five-metre frame, bringing the height to 35 metres, but Cr Samantha Dunn said the pole was tucked in the back of The Patch/Monbulk area with significant vegetation surrounding it.
“It’s a great model when three bodies are co-locating on one pole,” she said.
“If it’s one thing we hate, it’s the proliferation of towers and it would be nice to have a bit of competition in the hills (between telcos).”