February 23, 2023
South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto used his casting vote on Wednesday to knock back a proposal to build a Telstra 5G mobile phone tower on the outskirts of Kingaroy.
The decision to refuse the application for a Material Change Of Use for the South Burnett Pistol Club site in Redmans Road was greeted by cheers and applause from the packed Council gallery.
The same gallery booed and jeered when Cr Jane Erkens attempted to speak in favour of the proposal. Cr Erkens argued that people moving to the area wanted fast and reliable internet coverage, and that the technology was safe.
The application for the Material Change Of Use was submitted on behalf of Amplitel Pty Ltd, which would have built the tower.
A Telstra spokesperson (see below) said the telco would now consider its options following the Council decision.
Tower opponents rallied outside the proposed 5G tower site on Tuesday evening after learning Council staff had recommended the MCU application be approved, with conditions.
Speaking at that rally, Mayor Otto said councillors were free to reject the recommendation and invited the rally attendees to come along to Wednesday’s Council meeting.
At the meeting, Mayor Otto moved, Cr Kathy Duff seconded, that the application not be approved for the following reasons:
- The potential impact on the community as to mental health,
- The detrimental impact on the visual amenity of the rural residential precinct and landscape,
- Genuine concerns raised by the community,
- The impact through construction on access in the local residential area, and
- Environmental impact.
Mayor Otto said the “jury’s out” on the physical health impacts of 5G technology.
“There’s differing views from science, but there’s no doubt that the mere presence of a 5G tower within a location – the mere thought that it may cause harm – is enough to affect the mental health of our residents; enough to give rise to anxiety which can have detrimental impacts on their health,” Mayor Otto said.
“The visual amenity of that beautiful rural landscape we have up there on Redmans Road will be adversely impacted upon.
“It is a rural residential area … developed so that people can enjoy a country lifestyle without large buildings and infrastructure around them.”
He said the genuine beliefs of the local community needed to be taken seriously.
“The people have spoken. They are very concerned about this,” the Mayor said.
Cr Erkens said she had consulted with residents who wanted better internet coverage.
She said 80 per cent of Australians now had 5G coverage.
Turning to visual amenity, Cr Erkens said the tower was going to be “way up in the air”.
“It is not going to stand out any more than the big (Pistol Club) fence going along there,” she said.
She also pointed out that Swickers abattoir was on the same road.
“When you say that they haven’t decided whether it’s safe or not, everything that I’ve read actually says that it is safe,” Cr Erkens said.
“I believe that the majority of our community want 5G connectivity.”
And she found some of the comments made at Tuesday’s rally very difficult to believe.
“I understand that there’s a lot of people here today but I also understand there a lot more people in our community who rely on councillors to look after what they want. The ones that I have spoken to do want me to do the right thing by them, and that is to be voting against your motion, Mr Mayor.”
Cr Kathy Duff said she 100 per cent supported the Mayor’s motion.
“I saw the commitment and the concerns that were raised there yesterday (at the rally),” Cr Duff said.
“We are an extended arm and voice of the community, and the community, in my opinion, has spoken on this. And they do not want that tower in that particular setting.”
Cr Gavin Jones said he counted 67 people at Tuesday’s rally, and not all were local residents.
“We have 18,500 ratepayers and 33,000 people that we represent,” he said.
He said he understood the concerns, but as a councillor he had to represent the whole region.
He said World Health reports contradicted what the speakers said on Tuesday.
“I’ve had almost as many phone calls … as what there were people standing there yesterday in the rain, saying they were in favour of it,” Cr Jones said.
“If this was to be voted against, the telco provider has the ability to go to the Planning Court and appeal this decision which they probably will. And they’ll probably win … and it will be a substantial cost.”
Mayor Otto said he found it “interesting” Cr Jones said he had received 60-odd phone calls.
“I live in Kingaroy. I am the Mayor. My phone number is all over the website. I advertised this on Facebook, and I haven’t had a phone call from a Kingaroy resident saying that they want the tower,” Mayor Otto said.
“What I did see was 67 people lined up there who took a unanimous vote yesterday to say that they don’t support it … It was an open invitation to anyone who wanted to come and share their views on the tower. It was on the radio, it was on social media, it was spread through the community.
“So if you want the tower, your opportunity was to come up there and tell us yesterday. It was an open forum and I went up with an open mind.”
Mayor Otto said he had done his research into prior decisions, citing councils named in a submission (163kb PDF, name withheld) made to a 2019 Federal Government inquiry into the deployment, adoption and application of 5G in Australia.
He said he would be proposing a moratorium on the 5G rollout to a future Standing Committee meeting of Council “until science and further research is undertaken”.
Put to the vote, Crs Erkens and Jones voted against the Mayor’s motion to block the tower construction; while Mayor Otto and Cr Duff voted for it.
Mayor Otto then made his casting vote as chairman, rejecting the Material Change Of Use application.
Councillors Scott Henschen, Kirstie Schumacher and Danita Potter were not present in the Chamber during the debate and vote, citing conflicts of interest.
- External link: Local Councils And Network Facilities
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A Telstra spokesperson told southburnett.com.au the organisation would now consider its options.
“Demand for mobile connectivity is continuing to grow in the South Burnett and there is a need to improve mobile speeds and coverage for local residents,” the spokesperson said.
“Our proposed mobile base station would provide the latest and fastest mobile technology to the area.
“We will be carefully considering our options over the coming months in terms of a future way forward.”
He reiterated that Telstra took its responsibilities regarding the health and safety of its customers and the community very seriously.
“We also acknowledge that some people are genuinely concerned about the possible health effects from electromagnetic energy (EME) and we’re committed to addressing those concerns responsibly,” he said.
“We rely on scientific advice, not only from our own local experts but also from international researchers at places such as the World Health Organisation.
“5G is similar to both 4G and 3G when it comes to EME levels and both these technologies have been in operation across Australia for many years.”
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Sad to see re-election ambitions being put ahead of leadership to ensure the South Burnett keeps up with other regions wishing to attract younger people and investment in sustainable development.
I didn’t realise the development application was open for genuine consultation. I put that down to being blocked on Facebook by the Mayor’s campaign team when uncomfortable questions were asked in the lead up to the last election. I was one of the 60 people who sent Cr Jones a message of support, after I read the story here about the rally and the potential for such an important step forward to be voted down. Thank you Cr Erkens for your common sense approach to the issue.
5G in my understanding is 4G, wifi, wifi routers and bluetooth with muscle and it just enables essential services such as telehealth services, and more of what we can do now in a faster and more reliable way. For a region with not enough doctors and health services, the upgrading of our telecommunication would make a really big difference!
I’m fairly confident the 0.21% of South Burnett residents who attended the rally are all users of basic 5G technologies in some way, including the 2 elected members who voted against this development application. This technology enables photos to be posted to social media, texts to each other, promote events and participate in online meetings because the South Burnett is already surrounded by towers visible on the Bunya Mountains, the wind farm and every significant hill.
It would be more democratic decision if all councillors were in the room. This decision doesn’t pass the pub test as the consequence of this decision progresses the South Burnett backwards.
I do hope the telcos who are trying to help this region don’t now bypass us now for many years to come. Please appeal and help progress the South Burnett.
Wow, welcome to the 20th century. Pity the rest of the world is in the 21st century.
I don’t recall the Mayor being elected because he’s good at studying, I think it is fairly accepted that leaders should be advised by experts in the field of concern. His ‘research’ source is dated from 4 years ago, I’m kinda sure there would be more updated sources than that so his claims of ‘research’ are feeble and inadequate at best. Hope he didn’t do it on council time that we pay for.
But it seems this font of knowledge has been swayed by less than 0.5% of his constituents, because they came to a meeting on the side of the road and by reports, were all of the same mindset. There was no report of there being any qualified people speaking there. It pretty much looks like a staged event, but I wasn’t there so I’ll withdraw that.
What this mayor fails to acknowledge is the silent majority of residents trying everything they can afford to get decent network coverage in this area.
What he fails to understand is what a waste of money promoting tourism & industry is when we can’t get decent network coverage.
And as for the Council as a whole, ineffectual as usual with 3 of them citing conflicts of interest; sounds more like the kitchen got too hot for them.
Thank you Crs Jones & Erken, hopefully the silent majority have taken note of this debacle and will vote accordingly so we may ONE DAY get a council working for all the community and not for looking good in social media.
“They” tell us G5 is safe. Well I can remember when “they” told us Smoking, Asbestos, DDT and the big one, “Thalidomide”, were safe.
Anyone who believes that 5G is safe and just a faster way of getting your downloads has been brainwashed by the Telco industry who of course say it’s safe.
If you look at our Australian testing and safety group, ARPANSA, paid for by the industry by the way, our levels of “safety” according to them are actually 1000s of times higher than most countries in the world, so any council, health minister etc can say “ARPANSA says it’s safe”.
If you do research from global experts who have been whistleblowing for many many years, you will find it is extremely dangerous and is also required to bring in the global agenda of SMART cities, 15 min cities etc and to track and trace everyone.
There goes your freedom, welcome to fascism where you will own nothing and be happy and be totally under control.
(It is a known carcinogen, the same as asbestos, Roundup, cigarettes, thalidomide, DDT, alcohol and all the big pharma drugs!). They want you sick as they make lots of money from you having cancer. Follow the money and please research Agenda 2030 and World Economic Forum plans etc.
Thank you, Mr Mayor, for letting us know if we want anything stopped in our region we just need to round up 50-60 people for a rally, very good to know moving forward.
This decision from Mayor Otto, combined with the dragging of the feet on the Pound Street depot issue for this long, now means he won’t have my vote.
A big thumbs up for Crs Jones & Erkens from me.
This shows some members on our council still struggle with understanding our region’s modern requirements & future needs.
I’m very active across multiple community groups, especially on social media, and I knew nothing of this rally until I read about it on this site.
I am very disappointed in this decision and frankly shocked that such a small group have had this big of an impact on Mr Otto & Cr Duff’s positions.
If you where genuinely concerned with community’s input, why not vote to delay the decision until a larger group of the community can be offered the chance to give feedback?
Surely any adult with an ounce of sense in their heads know those opposing something are always the loudest group.
In general, I am very disappointed to say the least. Seems very much to be a knee-jerk reaction instead of a considered decision.
All this vote did, as all the councillors and Mayor know, is save face for them.
This will go now to the Land and Environment court and be overruled by a set of judges, and the SBRC ratepayers will foot the bill on all costs, between 50k and 150k.
The telecommunications company will go with the premise or complaint of restriction of trade and win every time, unfortunately for the few residents affected.
It’s like reading the script of The Castle.
It’s “the vibe, mate.”
How about the “mere presence” of my ridiculous rates invoice? It’s causing mental distress.
18,500 ratepayers but 67 people turn up to a “rally” and dupe the mayor seriously.
Hope he checked each person’s place of residence.
Agree with you, Tim. 67 people do not make over 50% of the ratepayers.
5G is just 2 frequencies instead of one so I believe. We are surrounded by radio waves and we are still living.
Would be interesting to see if any of the so-called 67 people uses their phone on a regular basis. Similar complaints were used about the NBN tower at Tingoora, claiming adverse effects to children so let’s put it behind the school, even closer.
Mayor, wake up. You are supposed to support all the ratepayers, not just 67.
Oh my goodness. So sad to hear above comments of uninformed folk riding on emotion & hearsay. This tech push to bombard us with more harmful frequencies is not just about whether you can get good mobile coverage or fast internet but about HEALTH. Even on a rural property I see the globalist attack.
Don’t you folk see the skies full of chemtrails (toxic chemicals), sick & dying farmers from using chemicals (supposedly safe), the push for everything SMART, & of course the jab (safe & effective?).
Do your homework folks.
Thank God for a mayor who DOES do research & has common sense. I applaud him & those who listen to & speak truth.
There we have it. 5G, vaccinations, the global agenda, SMART cities and chemtrails all in the one post. Makes me so proud to live in the South Burnett. Our mayor should be happy.
I am shocked by this decision by Mayor Otto
He has been voted in to his position on the slogan of PROGRESSING the South Burnett.
It is shameful that a huge number of people have been denied faster, more reliable and more accessible phone and internet due to this decision.
How can the opinion of just two councillors who are ill-informed Luddites affect the outcome for many in the area?
Mayor Otto, you should be ashamed of yourself to let yourself be hoodwinked by a handful of conspiracy theorists who are ill-informed panic merchants.
Science has shown that 5G towers are safe for the public. To say otherwise is ignoring hard core evidence and replacing it with scare tactics.
The mobile and internet access for anyone on the western side of Redman’s Road has been pathetic and this was a hope that things might improve.
Mayor Otto, come into the 21st century, listen to the experts, ignore the ill-informed and become informed yourself.
I live on Kingaroy Heights. I am a scientist. I stay informed, unlike many at the public meeting. We have lost an opportunity due to the decisions by two Luddites who we voted in to their positions.
It is a sad day for PROGRESS.
I would ask you all to read this government document
https://www.health.gov.au/news/safety-of-5g-technology