A LAKE Macquarie councillor has called for an exclusion zone between mobile phone towers and homes, as residents in yet another street vow to fight Telstra over plans for a tower metres from their homes.
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It comes as councillors on Tuesday night vote whether to approve a joint Optus and Vodafone tower proposed for Bulls Garden Road in Whitebridge – a proposal that has infuriated residents who fear health repercussions and impacts on property prices.
Another street closely watching the outcome of Tuesday’s vote are the residents of Scenic Drive in Caves Beach, who say they were blindsided by Telstra’s proposal for a 35-metre tower on Hunter Water land adjacent to homes.
Residents estimate the tower is proposed to be located 25 metres from the closest house. Caves Beach resident Scott Towers-Hammond said the proposal came “out of the blue”, after talk of a new tower in the area went quiet about two years ago.
Now, Mr Towers-Hammond said, “It feels like no one is listening”.
“We feel like we’re being ignored,” he said. “It’s as though everyone only sees the better phone coverage, while ignoring the fact it comes at the expense of people. You only say as long as it’s not in my backyard until it actually is in your backyard.”
According to council documents, the proposed tower would have a monopole about 35 metres tall, which would be painted the same colour as the surrounding environment.
The proposed coverage area to be improved after the construction of the tower includes Caves Beach and Swansea.
However, residents question why the tower needs to be built opposite homes.
“Have they considered the best option or the cheapest option?” Mr Towers-Hammond said.
There are fears about the potential for adverse exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
“We just don’t know enough about [mobile phone towers],” Jenny Towers-Hammond added.
Cr John Gilbert said mobile phone towers should be built “nowhere near homes” and called for a widened exclusion zone.
“I don’t like the way people are dismissive of these towers because they don’t live near them,” he said.
“These residents are being hung out to dry.”
According to federal government advice on electromagnetic radiation, exposure limits are regulated in line with World Health Organisation research.
“Should scientific evidence indicate that the current ARPANSA standard does not adequately protect the health of Australians, the Government would take immediate action to rectify the situation,” the advice says.
