Telstra plans to build Cairns mobile tower on Green Arrow at Whitfield
A decision on a divisive proposal to fix a mobile black spot by building a 30m telecommunications tower in a conservation park has been made by the council. What the plans involve.
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A DECISION on a divisive proposal to fix a mobile black spot through construction of a 30m telecommunications tower near the Green Arrow at Whitfield Conservation Park has been made by Cairns Regional Council.
At a meeting of the council last week a material change of use application applied for by Telstra was granted.
The development was not supported by councillors Rob Pyne and Brett Olds.
Asked if all other options to avoid construction in a conservation zone had been exhausted, council planning director Ed Johnson said alternatives required the building of two towers in other locations to achieve comparable mobile phone coverage.
“Alternative sites put forward resulted in greater environmental impact, as in more clearing would be required or it was on private property or within sport reserves or fields,” he told the meeting.
Speaking in support of the development councillor Amy Eden said she personally had experienced mobile phone calls dropping out and going straight to message bank.
“It’s not just about being able to call the ambulance, we are trying to promote Cairns as a liveable city where people can work from home and work remotely … we need to be able to connect to services,” she said.
The 30m monopole tower near to the Green Arrow walking track will be contained within a fenced 10m by 10m compound and will provide both 4G and 5G services for Whitfield and Brinsmead residents. The tower will also provide coverage to parts of Kanimbla, Edge Hill, and Redlynch, according to council documents.
A total of 33 properly made submissions were made on the project.
Councillor Bret Olds said it was a tough decision but he believed the application ought to rejected based on the development not adhering to conservation zoning parameters outlined in the CairnsPlan 2016.
“Why do we have a planning scheme?” he asked.
“Council bought that land as a scenic reserve. I am not supporting it, even though its not in my division. I just feel bad for the residents.”
A visual impact assessment by LA3 Landscape Architects summarised as “negligible” to “moderate”
“Due to the surrounding vegetation and elevation of the facility, residents and visitors located in the Whitfield and Brinsmead area will only see a small glimpse of the top of the facility,” the report stated.
Advice provided by Cairns Airport recommended, in light of safe aircraft operations, the height of the tower does not exceed 162m above sea level.
“CASA has determined that the tower poses a potential hazard to aircraft operations and therefore will require the tower to be lit with a medium intensity steady red light at the highest point of the structure,” the recommendation read.
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