Telecommunication tower battle: first win to Gold Coast residents in the hinterland

Residents of a Gold Coast suburb have launched a determined fight to stop a mobile phone tower being built, with an unusual health condition high among their concerns.

The top of a cherry picker showing the height of a planned mobile phone tower in the Currumbin Valley.

GOLD Coast hinterland residents have scored a stunning win in the first round in a war to stop a Telstra mobile phone tower.

Council usually ticks off on approving telecommunications towers when asked for consent on its land.

The site for a planned telecommunications tower in the Currumbin Valley on the Gold Coast.

But more than a dozen objectors, citing health issues including electromagnetic hypersensitivity, were celebrating today in the gallery at the Evandale chambers after councillors backed them at a planning committee meeting.

Officers had recommended an approval with conditions on an application for a telecommunications facility at Tallebudgera Connection Road, in the Currumbin Valley, within 200 metres of homes.

A cherry picker shows the height of a planned telecommunications tower in the Currumbin Valley on the Gold Coast.

Twelve residents had made proper objections and another 539 people put forward submissions against the tower, a council report said.

Property owners were concerned about health risks, property values and potential impact on the koala habitat.

The facility had a footprint of more than 34 sqm, and the tower itself would reach about 36.4m, about 2.1m above the existing tree line.

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Area councillor Gail O’Neill spoke strongly against the application, gaining support from colleagues.

“I am really concerned about the loss of amenity for rural dwellings out there,” Cr O’Neill said.

“They (the residents) are concerned with health issues. I know we can only address that to some extent. The community have spoken and I have certainly listened to their concerns.”

Outside the meeting, resident Lynne O’Hehir said more than 1000 people had supported a petition opposing the Telstra facility.

She said the biggest fear for residents in the village was that the tower would be upgraded and create health issues.

Many residents who suffered from electromagnetic hypersensitivity had bought in the valley to escape the impacts on their health from radiation, she said.

A view of the site from Tallebudgera Connection Road.

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All councillors will get to vote on the application at a full council meeting next week.

Asked if she was confident about their support, Ms O’Hehir replied: “I’m not confident. I wasn’t confident today. I’m really overwhelmed that the council took it seriously and they read that we didn’t want it.

“We have a beautiful valley, and for many reasons, including planning reasons — I did a 22-page submission — those planning reasons are real and but also there are some legal issues as well. We do know that possibly Telstra will appeal and we are ready for that.”