By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A proposal to erect a Telstra phone tower at Western Cemetery has been knocked back on heritage grounds.
This week a council planning meeting decided the phone tower would have “an unacceptable impact” on the cemetery’s heritage values “as a result of its visual impact”.
But the proposal could yet win approval, with the proponent able to appeal at the state’s planning tribunal.
The panel of councillors decided the proposed tower was not sited or designed to be sensitive to the cemetery.
“The telecommunications facility will have an unreasonable visual impact on the surrounding area when viewed from private and public land,” the panel decided.
Help Herne Hill group’s Jonathan Connor said the meeting had been “emotionally charged”.
Passionate residents and people with family buried in the cemetery had made impassioned objections to the plan, Mr Connor said.
Representatives from the National Trust, Holy Spirit Primary School, Rix Street Kindergarten and the Wathaurong community were present, he said.
The Indy reported in September that residents planned to topple the tower application after the Geelong Cemeteries Trust signed an agreement with Telstra to lease a section of the cemetery to install a 37.5m pole at the rear of the graveyard.
Western Cemetery houses the remains of Willem Baa Niip, also known as King Billy, the head of the Barrabool tribe, who defended his right to live on the land of his people, the Wathaurong.
Mr Connor said the tower would have overshadowed local residents, grave sites and recreational areas.
The seven councillor panel voted unanimously to refuse Telstra’s application, he said.
They also encouraged Telstra to actively engage with the community and other stakeholders.
“Residents claimed that not enough people had been informed of the application,” Mr Connor said.
“The community stated that a location such as the Western Cemetery could not be seen as anything but intrusive.
“This is a positive outcome for those affected by this proposal as it shows council is ready to listen to local residents and show courage and stand up for the people they represent.
“There was enough concern shown here by the community regarding the impact this would have on a site of historical and cultural significance and about the permanent impact this will have on the character of the neighbourhood, the visual impact and possibly on the health of their children.”
Mr Connor said residents wanted the council to negotiate with Telstra to find an alternative location away from Herne Hill.
The applicant now has 60 days to lodge an appeal with the Victorian Civil and Administration Tribunal.
