A south-west council has approved a 50-metre-high telecommunications tower aimed at boosting phone coverage along the Princes Highway.
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Corangamite Shire approved the Optus lattice tower for Chocolyn, east of Camperdown, at its meeting this week.
Councillors had previously deferred a decision at their April meeting and requested more information on whether alternative locations for the tower or co-locating with existing facilities had been considered, as well as how well the tower would improve blackspots. Sustainable development director Ian Gibb said that further information had now been provided.
Councillor Ruth Gstrein said her queries had been satisfied.
“There has been additional information provided by Optus and I’m satisfied that they’ve looked into co-location opportunities, that they weren’t there, and they’ve been able to enter into an agreement with the landowner to provide this Optus service,” she said.
“There was a discrepancy between the Optus coverage as shown on the website versus what we had been told in the report and that has been explained as outdoor access versus indoor access.”
Cr Simon Illingworth the decision was made clear with the extra information provided.
“There’s going to be some real benefits as far as telecommunications goes along the highway,” he said.
Cr Neil Trotter said it was a good result. “I think it also sends a message to these companies that they have to be diligent when they make their applications,” he said.
“The telecommunications company should not just take it as written that they will be given these sites.”