Stirling staffers shun Optus tower bid

by Charissa Mitting

April 15, 2008

AHEAD of their April 15 council meeting, two Stirling councillors opposed a bid by the State Administrative Tribunal to get the city to bend on a 5.4 metre high mobile phone tower proposed by Optus for the middle of leafy Mt Lawley.

“People are not happy with it in their backyards,” Cr John Italiano told eMU News. “Not at its present location, it’s a heritage area.”

The powerful tribunal had asked the council to shift ground on the proposal, scorned by local residents and businesses, to see if a compromise could be reached. Council staffers, however, recommended the city play hardball instead.

Optus wants to put the tower on a ground-level carpark behind the NAB building, near the Beaufort Street/Walcott Street intersection. The council was again set due to square off against Optus in a confidential mediation hearing on April 16.

Cr Peter Rose supported the residents’ objections, but also believed more research needed to be conducted.

“Difficult one,” he said. “I’m supporting the residents - they absolutely don’t want one.

“If people looked at the electrical out-put of their microwaves or TV they might be surprised.”

Cr Rose also suggested the tower be put in a different place.

“Put in a different place not so unsightly”, he said.