Coogee parents concerned over new mobile base station near classrooms

Concerned residents are challenging plans by TPG to build a mobile base station just a stone’s throw from two schools.

Concerned residents gather in front of the pole where the proposed mobile base station will go. Picture: John Appleyard

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Concerned Coogee residents are challenging plans by TPG to build a mobile base station just a stone’s throw from two schools.

The telco provider is expected to begin construction on the facility at 146-146 Coogee Rd this month, but locals argue the location is unacceptable.

Coogee Public School is just 200m away and St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School is only 110m from the site. The NSW Education Department said it had a “preference” for a distance of at least 500m from the boundary of schools.

Peter Causer, Member for Coogee Bruce Notley-Smith, Mabel Maclennan with dog "Minnie", Edie Maclennan and Emma Maclennan. Picture: John Appleyard

Resident Dr Peter Causer, who has 50 years experience as a medical practitioner, criticised TPG’s claims the installation was safe. “An article in the International Journal of Oncology (states that) ‘children and adolescents may be more sensitive to RF radiation than adults’ ... protest and comments by scientific experts and several organisations seem to go ignored,” Dr Causer said.

Someone has graffitied their discontent over the plan for a mobile base station.

Coogee state Liberal MP Coogee Bruce Notley-Smith said he found the proposal “troubling”. “I believe that this proposal is not in the public interest and should not proceed,” he wrote in a submission letter.

A TPG spokesman said the 500m preference was not law. “TPG will endeavour to modify designs to create minimum visual impact and work with the community,” a spokesman said.

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