Greenfields residents opposed to the construction of a telecommunications monopole have been over-ruled.
Camera IconGreenfields residents opposed to the construction of a telecommunications monopole have been over-ruled. Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson

Tribunal approves monopole

Vanessa Schmitt, Mandurah Coastal TimesMandurah Coastal Times

Mandurah City Council had previously refused an application for the monopole at the site.

The tribunal is an independent body that can review decisions made by local governments.

At the March 26 council meeting, the application for the telecommunications facility was refused because it was considered the monopole had not been designed to minimise any potential adverse impact on the amenity of the environment.

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The council also requested a letter be written to the Planning Department director-general and the WA Local Government Association to express concerns about local governments’ inability to influence the location of telecommunications towers in line with the Federal Code.

The SAT hearing followed an onsite inspection, which was attended by a tribunal member, before the meeting reconvened in Perth.

After hearing evidence from the applicant’s representatives and council, the tribunal granted development approval.

It was granted on the basis that the monopole would be in a location that would best serve the existing and planned land uses in the locality. The tribunal also decided the monopole would not have an impact on visual amenity that would outweigh the benefit to local telecommunications.

The tribunal concluded that overall, the impact of the monopole would not be so intrusive as to warrant refusal of the development. See the full decision at sat.justice.wa.gov.au.