Oakville residents will continue their fight against a proposed NBN telecommunications tower in their community following the release of documents showing NBNCo had provided misleading evidence regarding other possible locations further from residences.
Community spokesperson John Grima said NBN had written to residents claiming the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) had refused construction of a telecommunications tower within a nearby park.
The NPWS has since contradicted NBN’s claim. The NPWS did not refuse the NBN tower within the park but had only refused certain sensitive locations. A suitable site was established at Long Tan Place within Scheyville National Park, as it had good access and available power. The site was also well elevated in order to reach the target area and importantly, was well away from residents.
NPWS was awaiting environmental and heritage assessments but was told by NBN that “a more feasible location” had been found elsewhere. This location is amongst 15 to 20 effected residents and families with children.
Mr Grima said NBN had been caught out misleading local residents about the tower locations and should be compelled to restart the consultation process to give fair consideration to all possible sites and select one that doesn’t have such an impact of families.
“NBNCo has a responsibility to consult with residents, but it’s clear this current process was a sham,” Mr Grima said.
“Even when a suitable site was located within the National park, NBN has gone ahead with a location near family homes. When asked about relocating the tower to Scheyville National Park, NBN misled residents by claiming the NPWS was opposed to the park in its entirety.
“It’s clear the location within Scheyville National Park was never fairly considered. The process should be restarted, and this site given a proper analysis.”
Mr Grima said NBN’s current preferred location was within metres of families with young children.
“NBN has ignored the unanimous opposition of surrounding residents to go with its preferred location on Scheyville Road,” Mr Grima said.
“There are many other services within Scheyville National Park, including high voltage transmission lines, main gas and oil pipelines and a water reservoir. Co-locating a telecommunications tower in this area would not in any way diminish the park’s important heritage or ecological values.
“It simply does not make sense to impose a telecommunications tower on this community without properly investigating other alternatives such as Scheyville National Park with much less impact.
“We are calling on NBN to listen to the concerns of the local community, withdraw its misleading submissions report, and restart examination of the proposed tower location in the National Park.”
