PORT Stephens councillors will decide next week whether to allow a 38-metre telecommunications pole that could deliver "greatly improved mobile coverage" in the area to be erected beside a Raymond Terrace swimming pool car park.
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Council planning staff have recommended councillors approve the structure on Leisure Way, off Richardson Road, which would provide mobile phone, wireless broadband and data services to Raymond Terrace and beyond.
If approved, the pillar would be built on the 2.3-hectare site containing the car park for the pool complex, bowling alley and Lakeside Sports Complex.
A report to Tuesday's council meeting identifies the key issues with the proposal as "electromagnetic emissions and the visual impacts of the proposal upon the built environment".
A report on the tower's potential emissions prepared by Optus indicates the site's maximum exposure limit would be 99.16 per cent below the allowable limit at 0.84 per cent.
"The nearest residential property is approximately 75 metres from the proposed development," the council report notes.
"The proposed development supports and promotes the public interest and is recommended for approval."
Tuesday's meeting is also expected to close to the public to allow for discussion of a confidential item listed in the agenda as "Debt Recovery".
The meeting is likely to be the first after councillors receive a verdict on their push for a special rate variation from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
The independent arbiter is expected to determine the applications of 14 councils who sought to lift their rates by more than the permitted cap for the coming financial year and beyond.
