The Surf Coast Shire has back-flipped on a decision to block a proposed wireless NBN tower in Bellbrae, granting a permit on Tuesday night.
The shire originally voted four to three against granting a planning permit for the facility at 1435 Anglesea Road at its 22 August meeting.
Councillors Libby Coker, David Bell, Carol McGregor and Martin Duke opposed the facility, with Councillor Heather Wellington abstaining.
But the shire reversed the decision after receiving information from the NBN the proposed tower would be part of a network servicing 1700 additional properties.
“In approving the application lodged by NBN Co to build a tower at Bellbrae, council is aware that this will not service all locals,” Cr McGregor said.
The shire would advocate the NBN to provide reliable, affordable alternative service for residents who could not access the service through telecommunications towers, she said.
Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson hailed the decision a “terrific win“ for 4000 residents across Bellbrae, Gherang, Moriac, Mt Duneed and North Torquay.
“I am delighted that commonsense has prevailed,” she said.
“The decision on 22 August by some councillors … to block this fixed wireless facility was a terrible blow to the community.”
Ms Henderson said the Bellbrae fixed wireless site would serve as a “connection gateway” to other facilities in the area.
“If council had continued to prevent NBN Co from constructing this facility, NBN fixed wireless could have been delayed by up to 18-24 months.”
The residents could now expect to receive fixed wireless NBN broadband in the second half of 2018, Ms Henderson said.
A group of Bellbrae residents known as the Committee for Equitable Telecommunications Access in Bellbrae opposed an alternate fixed wireless location.
The alternate site would have reached 344 premises in Bellbrae, around 100 homes less than NBN Co’s solution, Ms Henderson said.
