COMMERCIAL buildings in Landsdale will have height restrictions and no windows facing Alexander Drive to avoid interference with satellites.
Wanneroo Council supported planning scheme and structure plan changes for East Wanneroo Cell 9, which is opposite the Perth International Telecommunications Centre in Cullacabardee, owned by Telstra.
A report to the council said the centre provided significant state and national telecommunications services that were susceptible to radio frequency interference from urban development.
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READ NOWThe report said the City received an application to rezone the Landsdale lots as commercial in 2014, and the council resolved not to support the change in 2017.
However, it said the WA Planning Commission decided to adopt it in July.
“The WAPC rezoned lots 154 and 155 predominantly as commercial with a portion zoned as civic and cultural,” the report said.
“The WAPC also proposed development control provisions applicable to the commercial zones in consultation with the representatives of Telstra.”
Those included building height restrictions of 7.5m in the southern commercial zone and 6m in the northern zone.
Parking was also to be located on the western side of the development, so buildings would provide extra screening.
“Screening of the car parking area is required because the locking and unlocking of cars could create radio frequency interference,” the report said.
It said walls facing Alexander Drive also had to be solid.
“This provision would not allow windows and doors facing Alexander Drive for the reason that the radio frequency interference generated by the commercial buildings facing Alexander Drive may affect the telecommunication services,” it said.
“If windows and/or doors were to be proposed facing Alexander Drive then all glazing will be required to be treated with radio frequency shielding window film.”
At the same meeting, the council supported a change to rezone seven properties on Grayswood Court, Warradale Terrace and Kevo Place from special residential to urban development, which would allow future subdivision.
Most of the properties overlook Warradale Park, and the council had agreed to rezone them residential with an R20 housing density in March, but the planning minister subsequently asked the City to rezone them urban development instead.
During the public consultation, the City received one submission, from a Telstra representative, which did not object to the change.
At the meeting, Allerding & Associates’ Amanda Butterworth, representing the provider, said having the R20 code on the eastern portion of the site would “minimise the risk of any radio interference to the PITC”.
The planning consultant said they had worked with the landowner of the commercial lots for two years to address their concerns and establish provisions that would prevent radio interference.