A GROUP of Guildford residents say they are prepared for a drawn-out contest against plans for a National Broadband Network tower in the town.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The group met yesterday to rally against the development.
Signs and placards detailed their opposition to the tower as they renewed their push for an alternative to the fixed wireless tower.
Group organiser Michel Marold labelled the NBN tower “obnoxious” and “intrusive”.
He said residents were chiefly concerned about the visual impact on the landscape and wanted fibre-optic cables instead.
“We were promised fibre optics,” he said. “It’s really frustrating, not having our opinions listened to.”
Mr Marold said the group had tried to mount an appeal to VCAT against the tower but the efforts were rejected.
“VCAT was unfair and unreasonable,” he said.
“They fobbed us off on a technicality, because we had the wrong form. We hadn’t sought legal advice so that’s maybe what we should have done.”
In March about 70 Guildford residents signed a petition citing their fears of associated health risks of the tower.
Mount Alexander Shire Council approved planning permits for the tower to go ahead.
NBN Co community relations manager Tony Gibbs said the electromagnetic energy the towers used was similar to the radiation from a 4G mobile phone.
Mr Marold said he was not deterred.
He said the group would continue to rally against the tower and would organise more protests to gather support.
Mount Alexander Shire mayor Michael Redden said the council had received a considerable amount of opposition to the towers but it was now in the hands of the NBN Co to decide.
