News
Another mobile phone tower proposal!
Stop press! Vodafone has withdrawn their Development Application (5/4/2012)
You may have seen the pink ribbons on fences and trees along Channel Highway recently. They are part of a campaign to raise awareness of the mobile phone tower proposal and also as a sign that residents are concerned regarding placement.
Read all about the "No Tower overTaroona School" campaign on their website:
http://www.taroonatower.com.au/
(added 4/04/2012)
Vodaphone statement (added 5/04/2012) read it here...
Grange Foreshore Track
After substantial community action, including presentation of a large petition, Kingborough Council has unanimously voted to upgrade the cliff track between Utiekah and Flinders Esp. This will commence when they have obtained the license from Crown lands.
This is good news for all of us who enjoy a walk on the foreshore, and particularly for those who dream that one day it will be possible to walk the foreshore on a continuous track from Kingston to Hobart City! This small section near the northern end of Taroona would be an important part of such a track, and if lost now would be difficult to re-instate.(added 29/3/2012)
Mobile phone tower proposal
From Jill Hickie, President Taroona Community Association (added 29 July 2011)
On Monday night, 25 July, 2011, Kingborough Council met and considered the issue of the proposed lease of land in Taroona Park for a mobile phone tower. They resolved that they refuse to enter into the lease for a mobile phone tower at Taroona Park. The Council voted unanimously on the motion with no opposition.
There were more about 30 Taroona residents and interested individuals in the public gallery attending the meeting - our presence was felt strongly. Over 120 representations were submitted to the Council and many lobbied councillors on this important community issue. This shows the power of the community in sending a strong message.
Members of the Tinderbox community were also present at the meeting. They are dealing with a planning application for another 35 metre tower next to Tinderbox Nature Reserve.
Given this growing social, health and environmental issue, the Council is going to be encouraged to develop a policy that mobile phone towers are sited to minimise their impact on community and environmentally sensitive locations. Further work is also needed on reviewing telecommunications legislation with regards to the Telecommunications Low Impact Determination 1997.
Meanwhile the TCA has offered to work with the Council, Optus and Telstra to find a more suitable location for a tower to service this area of Taroona.
Read Council minutes on the unanimous vote (Page 6/31 or numbered page 289)
Proposal for mobile phone tower - Taroona Park
(Added 4 July 2011, updated 11 July 2011)
Kingborough Council has recently advertised a notice to lease 40m2 located in the Taroona Park at the rear of the Taroona Fire Station. The notice can be accessed through the Council web site. However there was no information given on the notice regarding the intended purpose of the lease.
Through contacting Council officers the TCA has been informed that Telstra and Optus have applied to Council to lease 40 m2 of land within the fire station compound for a 30 m high mobile phone tower. The Tasmania Fire Service has been part of negotiations and it is understood that the TFS is happy with its location in the brigade compound.
The proposal is a two part process and is in its early stages:
1) Lease of land - Council advertises intention to lease the land which is a statutory requirement under the Local Government Act 1993. Objections to the lease of the land are to are to be lodged with the Council by 18 July.
2) Planning application - When the advertising period is complete, the objections will be considered by the Council. Telstra and Optus will then submit to KC a planning application. This usually has a statutory period of 42 days. Objections to the tower can be made in this phase.
The TCA is aware that there are a broad range of views regarding the environmental health impacts of mobile phone towers and electro-magnetic radiation (EMR) and that a number of residents from Nubeena Crescent and Kelvedon Ave are concerned about the proposal.
The committee wants to ensure that residents in the local vicinity are aware of the proposed lease of land and the Telstra/Optus tower so that you will have the opportunity to object to the proposal individually. We also will aim to provide a platform for informed community discussion around the issue to determine what action we will take as a group.
Sustainability Taroona
A new Sustainability Taroona group is to be established. Click here to read about the results of the sustainability workshops held in May.
(Added 27 June 2011)
