Council backs NBN tower

TENTERFIELD resident Neville Richardson said he was devastated with the Tenterfield Shire Council’s decision to approve a National Broadband Network tower at Riley St, near his home.
The 40-metre tower was approved by councillors during a general meeting last month.
Mr Richardson said he was disappointed that council gave no credence to more than 125 concerned residents, many of whom highlighted health concerns and impacts to surrounding property prices.
Mr Richardson likened the controversial communications towers to cigarettes, which, he said, took more than 90 years before authorities warned of the cancer risks.
“Why is it that in Europe they are restricting the use of wi-fi and super towers by more than 100 times greater than Australian standards, due to known health concerns, while here we’re allowing the progression of these towers with little regard for the health of residents around them?” he asked.
But Mr Richardson’s efforts were in vain, after all but two Tenterfield Shire councillors approved the tower.
Mr Richardson said he was now shifting his focus to a change of government during the September election.
“Maybe if the current (federal) government will not listen to the health warnings, then perhaps these concerns should be raised with the next government – should they take power,” he said.
Meanwhile, Glen Aplin residents have a lengthy wait for Southern Downs Regional Council to rule on whether another NBN tower will be given the green light at Stablies Rd.
A ruling on the Glen Aplin tower application was postponed by councillors for the second time following additional information from concerned residents.
The deferral follows new information which was raised during council’s general meeting at Warwick chambers on 24 April.
Councillors requested further information from NBN Co before making their decision during an earlier general meeting, however the information provided was incomplete due to an omission by NBN Co.
The omission related to an alternative site which many residents believed was a more suitable location for the tower.
Mr Richardson has urged Glen Aplin residents to use their time wisely and gather as many signatures against the tower as possible.
“We colleced more than 120 signatures in a single day, before we stopped, but in retrospect we should have tried for a lot more signatures,” he said.