Residents raise phone tower fears

Jennifer Chapman | 10th July 2009

FEARS of radiation have sparked Hervey Bay residents to fight against two mobile phone towers in their back yards.

Urraween residents are opposed to a phone tower.

Fraser Coast Chronicle

FEARS of radiation have sparked Hervey Bay residents to fight against two mobile phone towers in their back yards.

A group of Dundowran people claim they've been left in the dark after opposing a 51.3m-tall Optus tower, proposed for a site near Carls Road, back in April.

“We've heard absolutely nothing from (the council),” Col Jones from Dundowran said.

Mr Jones was sent a letter from Fraser Coast Regional Council almost two weeks ago stating all objections had been received.

The letter promised to advise residents when a town planning meeting would be taking place to discuss the tower.

The community had a list of concerns including that homeowners hadn't been sufficiently informed about the site and that it would devalue properties.

Radiation and subsequent health problems was also a worry.

Mayor Mick Kruger said council officers were looking at an alternative site and were yet to get back to councillors with recommendations.

“You can't just go and tell (residents) something and it's not correct. You've got to be very cautious,” he said.

“We're hopefully negotiating an alternative site.”

Urraween locals also hoped the council would give more consideration to a development application for a new telecommunications tower at Regency Avenue.

A group of about 15 people crammed into council chambers on Wednesday asking for emissions testing in the neighbourhood.

Stuart Harvey said they did not want to be treated like guinea pigs.

He wanted assurance nobody would have health problems relating to radiation.

The group had a tougher battle on their hands than those in Dundowran because there were already two mobile towers, a water tower and television transmissions dishes there.

Mr Harvey conceded that if tests revealed people were not in any harm they would have no case and would put up with the eyesore.

Who to call:

• Anybody who thinks they have suffered health effects caused by exposure to electromagnetic radiation or electromagnetic energy can make a written complaint to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency or the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

• A complaint to the ACMA is only valid if a carrier has not met its obligations which include considering minimising public exposure to EME.

• For more info visit www.arpansa.gov.au/ or www.acma.gov.au.