Residents not happy after tower approved

LOCAL residents walked out of Tuesday night’s council meeting in disgust after several Surf Coast Shire councillors voted for a telecommunications tower to be built in Mount Duneed.

The council meeting saw seven people exit the gallery during proceedings after accusing the council as being “weak” after they passed a planning permit application from Optus subcontractor Metasite for a 39-metre tower at 1,133 Surf Coast Highway.

Beach Tree Nursery co-owners Jane McPhee and Fiona Mannix were among those who have petitioned the permit because of the impact it would have on their business, which is near the tower site.

“It’s set to go up 70 metres from our nursery, all you’ll see is this big massive tower. The thing though that’s paramount was council’s decision back in March 2017 to defer the planning application so Metasite had to come out and explore an alternative location,” Ms McPhee said.

“They haven’t done that.”

John and Allison Muhlebach have lived on their 70-acre property at 1,125 Surf Coast Highway for more than 30 years and said they felt council had not followed due process.

“We were hoping to get the opportunity to suggest an alternative location at the back of our property but were never approached. We’re not against the tower itself only its location and why it needs to sit 80 metres from our house,” Ms Muhlebach said.

Ms McPhee said that some councillors had been fantastic, including the mayor, David Bell, who had taken the time to come out to their nursery and look around the site.

“He opposed the motion, so did councillors Libby Coker and Rose Hodge, who also took time out to actually come out here and look at the logic of moving it,” Ms McPhee said.

“We’re going to take it to VCAT, that’s my personal opinion, and once we’ve met with everyone else who’s been affected, we’ll know where to go from there.”

Surf Coast Shire general manager environment and development Ransce Salan said that council received a planning permit application to develop a telecommunications facility at 1,133 Surf Coast Highway.

“An amended application was submitted September 6, 2017 and the public had an opportunity to provide submissions and present to the Hearing of Submissions panel on February 6, 2018,” Mr Salan said.

“Having considered all submissions, council resolved to issue the permit as the amended application met the Surf Coast Planning Scheme, providing a balance between its visual impact and the overall community benefit.”