Telco tower proposed for Bob Pettitt Reserve

A PROPOSAL has been put forward to replace a light tower in Jan Juc’s Bob Pettitt Reserve with a taller mobile phone tower, and the Surf Coast Shire is seeking feedback from the public.

Optus has approached the shire to consider entering into a 20-year lease agreement regarding the replacement of the existing 18m south-west light tower with a 25m telecommunications monopole and associated infrastructure.

The Jan Juc and Torquay area has been identified as a target area for mobile connectivity improvement under the Victorian government’s Connecting Victorian Mobile Program, and the new facility would improve mobile phone coverage and access to mobile services in the Jan Juc area.

According to the shire’s Your Say page on the proposal, several private properties were assessed as possible sites for the new monopole but were “discounted due to inadequate improvements to coverage, site suitability and space constraints”.

“Bob Pettitt Reserve has been identified as the preferred location for the new facility, with the existing light pole on the southern side of the oval chosen as most suitable to replace.”

The shire’s councillors originally resolved to start community engagement on the proposal and seek feedback from the community nearly a year ago, on May 28, 2024, but because of the shire’s caretaker period for the council election and school holidays, “it was deemed appropriate to postpone community engagement until early 2025, to ensure adequate time is provided for consultation to be undertaken”.

The monopole will have 4G and 5G capability.

It will support two carriers – Optus and TPG/Vodafone – but is unlikely to support a third carrier without further strengthening works.

Feedback must be received no later than 5pm on March 7.

For more information and to provide feedback, head to yoursay.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/proposed-optus-telecommunications-tower-bob-pettitt-reserve-jan-juc