Killcare Heights mobile tower comes back to planning panel

Plans for the Killcare Heights mobile tower are returning to the local planning panel. However the dispute over whether the location of the site is culturally significant is far from over.

Controversial mobile tower plans for Killcare Heights are earmarked for approval as they return to the Central Coast Local Planning Panel.

However millionaire developer and local resident Tony Denny plans to continue his fight against the location of the tower saying he has further evidence of its cultural significance.

Plans for the tower at 37 Wards Hill Rd were deferred in August for further information on the 33m height of the structure along with consultation with the Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council (DLALC) on whether the site is sacred.

The proposal is set to come back to the panel on November 15 with a recommendation for approval by Central Coast Council.

Artists impression of the mobile tower proposed in Wards Hill Rd Killcare

The proposed tower has divided the community with some residents saying improved mobile services were needed, especially in emergencies, while others say the structure would ruin the character of the area.

Mr Denny, who lives nearby the proposed site, strongly opposes the tower and has been consulting with local Aboriginal elders about the sacred significance of the site. In September, he accused council of incompetence over failing to investigate the site’s significance.

“Since the last Planning Panel meeting, we have procured reports which note the cultural significance of the site of the proposed communications tower,” Mr Denny told the Express. “These reports have been provided to Central Coast Council. This immediate area is culturally significant to the original inhabitants of the area, the Guringai people. We cannot see how Central Coast Council could approve this application where there is evidence of such cultural significance.”

Tracie Howie, from the Guringai Tribal Link Aboriginal Corp, provided a statement saying the ridge line known as Killcare Heights was “part of an ancient cultural landscape associated with the annual whale migration”.

Millionaire developer Tony Denny has reports which state that the site of the proposed tower is sacred. Picture: Troy Snook

Artists impression of the tower from Killcare.

“This ridge line is a prominent vantage point with a magnificent southerly aspect for Mob to witness the first sighting of the whales heading north, past the Central Coast,” she said.

The council’s latest report to the panel states the applicant Lendlease, on behalf of Optus, had provided information regarding the 288 per cent height variation indicating that compliance with the 8.5m height rule for the area was “unreasonable” for the development.

“Overall, the aesthetic, visual bulk and scale of the monopole tower is considered generally acceptable as the structure is tapered and slender in its proportions, is made of material and

colour that is matt and not reflective,” the council report states.

“The proposed development is considered to be in the public interest as it provides for an essential service that supports immediate local and surrounding residential areas.”

The council also states that it had consulted with the DLALC and received confirmation that “upon a desktop assessment of the development application there were no issues of concern raised”.

The tower has divided locals with many saying improved mobile service is vital.

The council said it also forwarded reports provided by objectors to the DLALC which indicated that “both reports allude to potential findings that are on a neighbouring property and not in the site of the development application”.

In its investigations, it appears council has also diverted its attention to Mr Denny’s property, stating “that the land on 31 Wards Hill Road which conforms part of the Bouddi core habitat corridor shows evidence of vegetation disturbance over the last few years”.

Council plans to refer the matter on to its “compliance” section.

Mr Denny said council were deliberately targeting him due to his stance against the tower.

He said that further investigations on the significance of the tower site could take time.

“Investigating this cultural significance further is likely to take 1-2 years and given the initial evidence, it is difficult to see any outcome that would see the communication facility being placed on the currently proposed site,” he said.

“Given this we strongly urge the applicant to consider alternate locations which will still provide the coverage required to service the local area.”

The panel will meet on November 15 at 2pm.