Solicitor joins fight on tower

OPPONENTS of a 60m mobile phone tower planned for Tangambalanga are taking their fight to the chief executive of Telstra. A letter-writing campaign directed at the boss of the telecommunications giant David Thodey has begun following a public meeting this week at Tangamba-langa which attracted 40 people.

Wodonga solicitor Sandra Northey drafted letters aimed at Mr Thodey and the Indigo Council, which has planning control over the tower which is proposed for the edge of Tangambalanga about 300m from the Kiewa-Bonegilla road.

The letters, which were distributed at the public meeting, cite six different concerns with the tower.

They include ?negative impact on land values due to perceived health risks and visual amenity impact?, ?detrimental impact on visual amenity? and ?potential negative health effects and lack of studies demonstrating no long-term impact?.

The remaining points were ?potential detrimental impact on the health of children especially considering the tower?s proximity to the local kindergarten and primary schools? and ?concern over its proximity to residential areas?.

Mrs Northey, who lives at Kiewa in a house that overlooks the site of the planned tower, said she was keen to challenge the proposal and said ?it would be a crime not assist with the skills I?ve got?.

?Because people are lazy or are not motivated or haven?t got the skills to draft a letter I thought it would be easier to draft a pro forma letter to make the process easier for people,? Mrs Northey said.

?We?re not against the tower per se, just where it is located.

?It could be put on Huon Hill or Mount Murramurrabong which are a bit further out of town.?

Indigo Council is accepting submissions on the proposal until next Friday.

Telstra regional manager Andrew Cottrill has previously told The Border Mail that his organisation is committed to community consultation.

Source: www.bordermail.com.au