THE City of Mandurah is supporting a proposed telecommunications tower at Herron, despite opposition from residents.
The 71.5m tower would be set in a 300sq m fenced compound and replace a 50.2m tower on Mount John Road, which would be decommissioned.
The City was told a 35m Telstra tower on Dunkeld Drive was not high enough to provide comparable network coverage.
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READ NOWEighteen submissions on the proposal were received, with the main concerns including loss of visual amenity and the effect on health and environmental, conservation and property values.
According to the council, the tower would affect the visual amenity but this had to be weighed against the overall benefits of the tower to the wider community.
Although the upper portion would be visible to motorists on Old Coast Road, the brief view of the tower, given the speed limit, was not considered to affect the view.
The council said the biggest impact would be on adjoining properties, although vegetation would obscure the base of the tower.
But it considered the benefits of increased telecommunication services, particularly for residents and emergency services, outweighed its visual impact.
Residents told the council they were concerned about property values and the visual impact of the tower when viewed from Aboriginal and community heritage sites and its unknown health risks.
There was also concern about the clearing of natural flora and fauna, the impact on migrating birds and that the site had not been formally assessed for its biodiversity value.
Cr Lynn Rogers said lots of tower proposals came before the council but it had little or no say.
She said she felt sorry for residents and the wildlife and suggested residents approach Dawesville MLA Kim Hames for help.