Hahndorf: Telstra 5G phone tower plans lodged with Mount Barker District Council

Hahndorf residents and businesses are in line for major boost in mobile phone coverage, with Telstra seeking to construct a 5G tower on the outskirts of town.

Poor mobile connectivity could be a thing of the past in Hahndorf, with Telstra looking to expand its coverage in the Adelaide Hills.

A new Telstra base station planned for near Hahndorf could deliver 4G and 5G services to residents and businesses in the town and its surrounding areas.

SAQ Consulting, on behalf of Telstra Corporation Ltd, has lodged plans with Mount Barker District Council to build a 25.5m mobile phone tower at 58 Pachetown Road, Paechtown.

A report prepared by planning consultant Mark Baade said the $200,000 “telecommunications facility” would be used by Telstra to provide improved 4G and 5G coverage to the area, which includes the nearby South Eastern Freeway.

He said Telstra currently provided mobile service to Hahndorf via an existing facility at the Hahndorf Resort and more recently by the way of a small cell antenna at 3 Auricht Road.

Despite recent service improvements, Mr Baade said, the eastern end of the town only received outdoor coverage, a problem for many businesses.

Telstra has lodged plans to build a 5G mobile phone tower at 58 Paechtown Road. Source: Mount Barker District Council

“While the small cell is an important addition to the network in Hahndorf, particularly during the busy times in the main street, it does not address the wider network coverage and capacity issues in Hahndorf, particularly in the eastern, northeastern and southern parts of the township as well as … the South Eastern Freeway,” he said.

“The next closest Telstra facilities are located at Verdun, Littlehampton and Mylor, none of which play any significant role in providing coverage to the township of Hahndorf.

“As such, there is a requirement to construct a new facility.”

Mr Baade said Telstra had investigated a number of suitable locations for the tower, which will include a 35m tall monopole, nine panel antennas, various radio units and a new equipment shelter.

He said the Paechtown property was deemed the most suitable, as surrounding vegetation would lessen any visual impact the tower would have on the community.

The location would also prevent any impact on primary production, and ensure the project didn’t cause land degradation or require native vegetation to be cleared.

The new 4G and 5G tower is hoped to put an end to poor mobile service in Hahndorf. Source: Mount Barker District Council

Hahndorf Business and Tourism Association member Sebastian Graham said the upgrade was desperately needed.

Mr Graham, who owns and runs Hahndorf Leathersmith and Bush Gallery, said he and other business owners were often left without reception inside their stores.

“I’m in the main street and I don’t get service in my shop, and when the internet goes down and my point-of-sales system goes to 3G, it doesn't work.

“And it’s not just me. You walk down the street and you’ll see a bunch of business owners doing the one legged dance with their eftpos machine in one hand trying to get reception.

“So I think (this tower) is a pretty smart idea as right now, there’s X amount of demand but that’s only going to get up in the future and what’s the other solutions?

The development is on public notice until April 23.