This digitally-altered image of the proposed telecommunications tower from the base of the Hoddle Street housing estate was created by one of the plan’s opponents.
By Mara Pattison-Sowden
YARRA Junction residents are gearing up to save their town from what they call “a blot on the landscape”.
Residents are disgusted with a proposal for a telecommunications tower on Milners Hill that did not involve community consultation before the submission was taken to Yarra Ranges Council.
They also say the proposal goes against the telecommunications code of conduct and the shire’s planning policies by the number of places it will be visible in the valley.
Residents say they are not objecting for the need of more telecommunications, rather to let it be less obvious to the landscape.
The planning permit, lodged in February, is for a 35 metre monopole on top of Milners Hill, just off Hoddle Street, with the surrounding trees just 20 metres high.
Milners Hill is 337m high and is only one kilometre from the town centre.
Hoddle Street resident Mervyn Roberts said Yarra Junction is known for its beautiful location and views, and the tower would be a “blot on the landscape”.
“All these people who have built new houses on the estate, they’ve got verandahs around them because they can look at our lovely iconic hill covered in gum trees,” he said.
“Would you prefer to look at the wedge-tailed eagles gliding around up there or a big tower?”
Mr Roberts said one of Telstra’s arguments was the mobile reception would help an estimated 35,000 vehicles per day travelling the Warburton Highway.
“Firstly, when you’re driving, you can’t use a mobile phone and probably 75 per cent of people driving up and down are tourists who come here to get away from those things,” he said.
Russel Edwards, who lives 400 metres from the proposed tower site, said he was not notified of the proposal and found out about it from a neighbour.
“I find it really poor Telstra can’t be bothered to communicate with its own customers,” he said.
Mr Edwards said he already had good coverage on his phone and laptop, and the proximity of the tower was the key problem.
“It’s about business and convenience without any real consideration to the residents of Yarra Junction,” he said.
“In the last 20 years, we’ve seen slow incremental changes we can’t avoid to some degree, but we can choose the best approach rather than accepting the cheapest approach from Telstra.”
A Telstra spokesman said the company chose the site based on the required coverage objectives and the surrounding landscape.
In the planning submission, it is noted “the site upon which Telstra proposes to locate the facility is a prominent landform within the local context” but goes on to say the screening of the lower and middle portions ensure the visual impact would not be detrimental and “should satisfy” council policy. It also notes the local Rural Conservation Zoning on the land, which seeks to “retain and protect scenic landscapes, rural character and special environmental features of the site”.
A public meeting for objecting residents will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday at the shire offices in Yarra Junction to consolidate the objectors’ issues.
