PLANS FOR PHONE TOWER REVEALED

A 35-METRE Telstra phone tower has been proposed for Gheringhap.

The tower would be developed on vacant farmland on the Midland Highway, according to planning application documents.

The proposed development is estimated to cost $150,000.

“Telstra has submitted this application for a new telecommunications facility in Gheringhap after a thorough investigation to improve coverage and capacity in the area and in order to improve mobile communications performance in the area,” the planning report says.

“Telstra does not propose the installation of a new telecommunications facility without exhaustively investigating possible alternatives, including co-location or existing infrastructure,” it said. “In this case, Telstra concluded that there is no viable existing infrastructure within the targeted search area in Gheringhap to achieve co-location.”

The tower would provide the community with reliable 4G access, the plans say.

The plans are currently before the Golden Plains Shire. It is the latest in a string of proposed telecommunications facilities for the region.

Portarlington parents voiced concern in July that a planned phone tower near the local primary school posed health risks to their children.

Plans have also been revealed for a 21m tower in Anglesea and a tower in Torquay.

The Surf Coast Shire received 40 objections relating to the proposed Quay Reserve tower for Torquay, with concerns raised about the impact of 5G technology on health.