A bigger phone tower — and you’ll get new scoreboard

TELSTRA wants a new 30m phone tower next to a suburban sporting oval — 5m higher than the existing one — so tram passengers get better coverage. Local cricketers aren’t convinced, even though they’ll get a new scoreboard.

Jordan Wood (Pulteney OS) is bowled by Simon Hatji. A1 Turf Cricket. Brighton v Pulteney OS, at Brighton Oval. Picture: Stephen Laffer

TELSTRA wants to install a mobile phone tower next to Brighton Oval to improve coverage for the local area and for train passengers.

The company has asked to lease a small site at the Brighton Rd complex from Holdfast Bay Council.

It plans to build a 30m tower to replace a 25m light tower on the northeastern side of the oval.

Lights will be attached to the tower, and the scoreboard at its base will be replaced and will hide an equipment box.

Telstra area manager Michael McGlashan said the area was suffering “network congestion and performance issues” and the new tower would help the company meet future demand.

Brighton Cricket Club president Paul McKenzie said some members were concerned about the health effects of radiation from the tower, especially as it would be close to Brighton Primary School, but the club would finalise its position at a meeting this week.

Telstra wants to build new, taller phone tower next to the Brighton Oval.

Brighton resident Aileen Harrington, 76, was opposed to the tower because children went to school nearby.

“Their brains are still growing and to me that’s pretty fearful,” Mrs Harrington said.

“I have a grandchild going to Brighton Primary School and she is eight and I guess that’s why I’m very concerned about her and anyone else she goes to school with.”

Brighton Primary principal Judith Allen said the school would not put in a submission for or against the proposal.

“It’s a community issue,” Ms Allen said.

Mr McGlashan said mobile phone towers operated “well within the guidelines established by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency” for health and safety impacts.

Holdfast Bay Council consultation on the project closed yesterday.

Telstra did its own separate consultation in 2013 when it first flagged the idea, but dropped the proposal.

In 2014, Holdfast Bay rejected an application for a Vodafone tower 650m north of Telstra’s proposal, also on Brighton Rd.

However, the Environment, Resources and Development Court overturned this decision last June and it has now been built.