Council approve Baldivis telcoms tower

The City of Rockingham met for the February council meeting on Tuesday night, with council voting on a number of interesting items - including passing a proposal for a new telecommunications tower in Baldivis.

A packed public gallery was on hand, with a number of local residents putting questions to the City regarding the proposed Mangles Bay Marina during public question time.

The meeting saw Council vote 6-2 in favour of the proposal to install a phone tower at Lot 9094 on Norseman Approach in Baldivis.

During debate on the item, councillors Joy Stewart and Matt Whitfield spoke in favour of the proposal.

Cr Whitfield acknowledged there was an issue with the location of the tower for some residents but said Council had to look at what was there for the common good of residents in the suburb.

“In an ideal world we would have them 100km away from everybody on a hill but that wouldn’t do any good for anybody,” he said.

Cr Whitfield also said the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency had found no scientific link between the towers and negative side effects of radiation.

Councillors Leigh Liley and Katherine Summers spoke against the proposal, citing concerns around the science on phone towers.

“These towers are always very contentious….I’m still of the belief this is unproven science,” Cr Liley said.

“Sadly the mighty dollar always prevails.”

Cr Summers said Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration should apply in this situation.

“The amount of science that we have, the debate that we have, nothing is conclusive in regards to electromagnetic emissions,” she said.

“In the face of this hugely conflicting information the precautionary principle should apply to all planning positions.”

During the meeting council also approved proposals for liquor licenses at Shoalwater Football Club and Baldivis Soccer Club, as well as a proposal for a tavern/brewery on Parkin Street.

The proposal, which came from Shore Thing Brewing, would be based opposite Rockingham IGA and see a tavern developed on the site of a decommissioned service station.