Telstra reveals plans for phone tower at Caboolture residential estate

Telstra has submitted a proposal to Moreton Bay Regional Council for a new phone tower in a residential area which will boost 4G and 5G services north of Brisbane. SEE THE PLANS

A telecommunications giant has put forward a plan to construct a new tower in a suburban park north of Brisbane.

Telstra has lodged a development application with the Moreton Bay Regional Council for the infrastructure, in Upper Caboolture.

A planning report, prepared by Ventia Australia Pty Ltd on behalf of Telstra, revealed the plans for a mobile phone base station at Parkridge Estate park at 287A Caboolture River Rd.

The 68,690 sqm park is owned by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, under the care of the Moreton Bay Regional Council.

Where the tower would be built.

Proposed works include the installation of a 35m monopole, nine new panel antennas mounted on a triangular headframe attached to the monopole, and the installation of ancillary equipment on the monopole.

A 2m-high Telstra equipment shelter is also part of the proposed works, plus Optus outdoor units at the base of the monopole.

The facility will be confined within a 10m x 10m security fenced and locked compound and will be landscaping.

The planning report submitted to the council said Telstra was upgrading and expanding 3G, 4G and 5G mobile phone infrastructure across Australia to make voice and data services faster and more reliable.

A development application has been lodged with the Moreton Bay Regional Council for a new telecommunications tower at Parkridge Estate Park in Caboolture.

“Due to an industry-specific network requirement, Telstra have identified the need to install a telecommunications facility on the site to improve both voice and data services within the surrounding area,” the report said.

The facility will provide 4G and 5G services to the surrounding Caboolture area.

It is not only Telstra customers who will benefit, with Optus joining forces with the telco after it “expressed a desire to locate their equipment on the Telstra facility”.

“As a result, this project forms a rare opportunity for the local government to approve a single tower to meet the needs of multiple carriers,” the report said.

The tower proposal forms part of Telstra’s nationwide rollout to deliver “improved mobile coverage and enhanced services in metropolitan, regional and rural areas throughout Australia.”

What the tower could look like.

The rollout consists of the upgrade of existing telecommunications facilities and where required the installation of new mobile base stations to expand the coverage footprint and offer seamless mobile services.

According to the telecommunications provider, additional base stations are required where surrounding facilities cannot provide sufficient coverage to a target area.

“New facilities are also required when existing base stations are fully utilised and cannot serve additional users in the area,” the report said.

“Telstra has undertaken analysis of their mobile network in Caboolture and has identified areas where coverage and network quality needs to be improved.

“The current proposal will form part of Telstra’s network to Upper Caboolture and surrounding areas and will deliver essential mobile services... and high-speed wireless internet.”

The proposed facility location is mainly surrounded by residential homes, about 130m east from 10 Parkridge Ave.

Public notification and consultation with the community has already been undertaken, with residents invited to have their say up until July 16.

Where the tower would go.

Only eight comments were received during the consultation period, from six submitters.

One signed petition was received with five signatories who did not provide other submissions.

In total, two were in favour of the proposal and nine objected, noting concerns with the impact to flora and fauna, electromagnetic radiation emissions and visual impacts.

As part of responding to these submissions, Telstra revised its design to include landscaping along the eastern boundary of the proposed compound.