By Ann Marie Angebrandt
PLANS to build a 30-metre mobile phone tower next to a Hoppers Crossing school, sporting facilities and parkland were open to public comment during the two weeks of school holidays.
The $200,000 tower is proposed for the north section of Galvin Park, on Shaws Rd, close to Galvin Park Secondary School, soccer fields and tennis courts.
Objectors were given two weeks ending last Thursday to lodge any submissions about the planned tower, which will also contain a strap-mounted parabolic radio dish.
The tower is planned to facilitate third-generation mobile reception for Optus and Vodafone.
One resident who received a letter from the Wyndham City Council telling him of the proposal, said he thought it was “trickery” to advertise the tower during school holidays when all affected groups were not given sufficient opportunity to lodge concerns.
Wyndham CEO Ian Robins said seven signs were placed on the site for 14 days advertising the proposed tower.
He said it was up to the applicant, Abigroup Telecommunications, when the advertising occurred, not the council.
Council planners say in their reports that the tower would not impact on any existing use of the area because it would be obscured with landscaping and mature trees.
