By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
CASEY Council will lobby NBN Co and politicians to scrap plans to install up to two 50-metre high mobile towers in the municipality’s foothills.
At a 7 June council meeting, the council decided to write letters against the “proposed building” of two NBN lattice towers for Harkaway and Narre Warren North.
Councillor Rafal Kaplon said it was a “pro-active” move from the council prior to NBN Co formally lodging a planning application.
The aim was to highlight the green-wedge foothills’ protected status under the Casey planning scheme, and to urge NBN Co to explore alternatives such as underground cables and satellite technology.
Cr Kaplon said NBN Co had chosen the mobile-tower option because it was the “most time and cost-effective way” despite residents’ concerns.
NBN Co has proposed a 50-metre tower at 380-386 Harkaway Road which will provide wireless broadband for 240 properties in Narre Warren East and northern Harkaway.
The company has not confirmed a second tower for the region.
NBN’s state spokesman Michael Moore said a tower had been chosen for Harkaway Road because fixed-wireless technology was the “most suitable” for the area.
“While this is our preferred site for the tower, we have not yet submitted a council planning permit application.
“We are currently consulting the local community and are keen for feedback on the proposal and recommendations on any alternative sites.”
Mr Moore said NBN had not decided on whether to build a second “fixed wireless” tower for Harkaway Village. Cables and satellite were the other options, he said.
“It’s still in the design phase.”
Save the Casey Foothills Association spokeswoman Rosalie Counsell said the Harkaway Road tower’s prominent position would “desecrate” the scenic foothills for the sake of a “small number of households”.
“While we don’t oppose the NBN, where it traverses high landscape value areas like the Casey Foothills, it should either go underground as was originally intended.
“If this is not feasible, then it should be located on sites of low visual sensitivity, preferably where they can be ‘piggy-backed’ onto an existing facility.”
La Trobe Liberal incumbent MP Jason Wood said he was seeking alternatives to ensure a “win-win” for residents.
“While I understand their concerns, it’s very important to create stable mobile telecommunications lines for bushfire season communication and emergency warnings, so we have to find a way to balance these competing needs.”
The Casey letter will be sent to the Federal and Victorian governments, as well as NBN chief executive Bill Morrow.
