Phone tower causes anger

BRIGHTON: A war of words has broken out over the construction of a new mobile phone tower in Brighton.

 Angry residents have twice gathered at the site between 23rd Avenue and the Deagon Deviation to voice their grievances and the disquiet is ballooning.

 "We've formed an opposition group called the Brighton Anti-Mobile Phone Tower and we mean business," spokeswoman Carol Parkinson said.

 "There is no need for this tower. But that's not our major complaint.

 "The impact on our health is unknown and we should not be put at risk with a tower so close to homes. Besides that, the site is on environmentally sensitive ground and is a travelling corridor for bats. Who knows if the bats will be disoriented by the radio waves from the tower?

"The people behind this don't care about the residents.

 "There's an official objection period which extends until November 1 1 but the developers have overlooked that and moved in with heavy machinery and built the thing. It stands about 30 metres high and all they need to is switch it on."

 Mrs Parkinson and others like Sue Rutherford and Stella Kantor are 'disappointed' with authorities for their alleged 'lack of consultation'.

"But for a sign at the site there was no mention of this," Ms Rutherford said.

"Surely the residents deserve to have been consulted on such an important matter. This tower was not well publicised even though it is close to both housing and schools."

Letters of concern have been mailed to the Brisbane City Council and similar notes will be going to the State member for Sandgate (Gordon Nuttall) and the Federal member for Lilley (Wayne Swan).

"We have to make as many people aware of this terrible development as possible," Ms Rutherford said.

"There's a public meeting being called for October 30 in Decker Park (at the south- eastern end of the Houghton Highway) and we'll be circulating a petition, which will be calling for the end to this proposal."

Lord Mayor Jim Soorley has confirmed his office will examine the issue.

"But 1 believe the Tower has been constructed on State land," Councillor Soorley said. "However, 1 will look at this matter."

Additionally Cr Denise Herbert, whose ward of Deagon encompasses the tower site, has been able to assure residents no further progress will he made on the tower pending the objection.

"There was a mistake which led to work starting. We understand it was not done to .upset anyone," a spokeswoman for Cr Herbert said.

-Alan Welburn

Bayside Star 27 Oct 99 page 1

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