{"id":339036,"date":"2023-10-19T22:21:12","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T12:21:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=339036"},"modified":"2023-10-20T19:49:10","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T09:49:10","slug":"court-approves-5g-telstra-tower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2023\/10\/19\/court-approves-5g-telstra-tower\/","title":{"rendered":"Court Approves 5G Telstra Tower"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
FLASHBACK: Mayor Brett Otto looks on as speaker Michelle Anderson addresses the protest rally in February against the 5G tower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 19, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Telstra 5G mobile phone tower will be built in the grounds of the South Burnett Pistol Club following an order handed down in the Planning and Environment Court this week.<\/p>\n

The tower, which was the focus of an on-site protest in Redmans Road in February, will extend more high-speed telecommunication services into the Kingaroy and Coolabunia areas.<\/p>\n

The day after the protest rally, Mayor Brett Otto used his casting vote at a Council meeting to block a development application by Amplitel Pty Ltd to build the tower, citing concerns by local residents and others over alleged health issues.<\/p>\n

Council officers had recommended the application be approved.<\/p>\n

Cr Jane Erkens and Deputy Mayor Gavin Jones voted against the Mayor\u2019s motion to block the tower construction; while Mayor Otto and Cr Kathy Duff voted for it.<\/p>\n

Other councillors, declaring a conflict of interest, absented themselves from the decision-making process.<\/p>\n

Amplitel promptly lodged an appeal against the SBRC decision in the Planning and Environment Court.<\/p>\n

The court ordered mediation occur between the parties.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, the SBRC issued a statement that it had accepted legal advice to resolve the matter:<\/strong><\/p>\n

On February 22, 2023, South Burnett Regional Council resolved to refuse a development application for a Development Permit for a Telecommunications Facility located at Redman\u2019s Road Coolabunia. <\/em><\/p>\n

This was resolved after extensive discussions, with several councillors absenting themselves after declaring a conflict in this matter. <\/em><\/p>\n

Subsequently, the applicant lodged an appeal to the Planning and Environment Court. <\/em><\/p>\n

The court ordered mediation in this matter which has taken place over several months, and legal advice recommended that it was in the best interest of the Council to negotiate a suitably conditioned approval to resolve the appeal. <\/em><\/p>\n

Based on this advice and mediation process, the Court decision was made to grant the approval with conditions after the court ordered mediation and process on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Minor changes” were also approved to the proposed development, including:<\/strong><\/p>\n