A PROPOSED Optus communications tower for Golden Beach has left coastal resident Heather Lloyd furious, stating the 60 metre tower would be "an eyesore''.
Optus lodged a planning application for a permit to build the tower on privately owned land along Moonrise Rd near Lake Reeve, south west of Golden Beach.
An Optus spokesman explained the tower would be part of the telephone network's mobile network expansion and would increase mobile coverage in the area.
"As part of the expansion of its mobile and wireless broadband network, Optus has submitted a planning application to build a 3G mobile facility at Golden Beach,'' the spokesman said.
"This facility will provide new and dedicated coverage in the area, delivering greater choice and competition to customers in Golden Beach.''
In line with standard practice and planning regulations, Wellington Shire Council advised nearby landholders by letter of the planning application.
The letter, sent to 11 landholders stated they had two weeks to lodge an objection to the planning application.
The period for lodging objections closed last Wednesday.
However, one Golden Beach resident has accused Wellington Shire council of not providing enough notification to the residents of the area.
Heather Lloyd of Golden Beach said that while nearby landholders received letters of notification, she should also have been notified by council of Optus's intention to build the tower as she lives on a hill overlooking the proposed build site.
"For a sleepy little seaside village I believe the whole town should have been notified as this will have a huge impact,'' Ms Lloyd said.
"We're up on the hill and because it's so tall we'll look right at it. All the people who live up high will be looking right at it.
"(Council) only had to notify the people with land adjoining it.
"Imagine something like this being built in the middle of Sale.
"It'll be the biggest eyesore. We currently look out across beautiful bushland - we can see right to the Great Dividing Range.
"``Now there's going to be a huge tower there.
"There is so much farming land further north east where this tower would not have impacted upon a coastally sensitive area.
"I fail to understand why the tower needs to be located in my backyard.''
Ms Lloyd has submitted her objections to council. The spokesman for Optus explained the company would consider all options before deciding on a location for the coastal tower.
"During our search for suitable mobile sites, we work hard to strike a balance between customer demand for improved mobile and broadband coverage in the area and the preferences of individual residents.''
This is the second location proposed by Optus, which selected the new site further away from Golden Beach after objections were received to its original planned site.
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