The community will have its say about a proposal for the City of Greater Geelong to lease approximately 20 square metres of Highton Reserve to a mobile tower infrastructure provider for a telco monopole.
Amplitel (Telstra's tower business) wishes to remove a 20-metre-high City-owned monopole at the Barrabool Road reserve, which is used by Vodafone and also features non-Australian Football League (AFL) standard lights.
The business is proposing to replace this with a 30-metre-high monopole capable of co-locating Vodafone and Telstra transmitters. Equipment cabinets would also be installed on the ground.
The transmitter would provide greater Telstra coverage in the area.
As part of the proposed 21-year lease, the business would also supply and install AFL standard sports lighting to the pole at the oval that's home to the Geelong Falcons.
AFL Victoria would be responsible for maintaining the sports lights.
An independent valuation has determined that the annual fee for the lease would be $23,000 with a three per cent annual increase.
Mayor Peter Murrihy
I invite the community to have a read of the proposal and view the maps of the preferred location of the monopole.
If the City receives submissions and the submitter wants to be heard, a Submissions Review Panel would be held and report back to council.
Councillor Belinda Moloney
If the proposal goes ahead, the upgrade would provide improved telecommunications services and sports lighting for local residents and users of Highton Reserve.
Council looks forward to hearing the insights from the community consultation and the outcomes of a Submissions Review Panel if it's convened.
