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Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Telstra 5G upgrade push rejected

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Byron Council has made an 11th-hour submission opposing the construction of 5G mobile cells in the heart of Mullumbimby.

Telstra is planning to build the facility at 95 Dalley Street as part of the rollout of 5G technology across the country.

Hundreds of locals have signed petitions and submitted letters opposing the project on the grounds that 5G technology will, or may, have negative health impacts on both humans and the Mullumbimby bat colony.

They are particularly concerned about the Dalley Street tower because of its close proximity to two local schools, and a bus stop used by hundreds of school children each day.

Last Thursday’s Council planning meeting heard that a Council staff member had already given approval for the structure under delegated authority.

However, councillors effectively overturned that decision at the meeting, voting instead to make a late submission to Telstra indicating their opposition to the plan.

More information needed 

They passed a motion stating that Council did not support the upgrade and continued to support a moratorium on 5G, until information it had requested previously was provided.

‘My particular concern is that we’ve asked Telstra for information about 5G in the past, and they haven’t responded,’ Greens councillor Sarah Ndiaye said.

‘I think unless or until they provide us with that information there’s a question mark hanging over this project and the technology more generally.’

Comprehensive review requested

Council also reiterated its request for a commitment by a government body to undertake a comprehensive review of the cumulative health impacts of 5G technology, and an indication of who held responsibility for monitoring these effects.

It also called on the State Government to review the current planning process for the installation of small cells, and consideration of any possible improvements.

The motion was passed unanimously by councillors.


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16 COMMENTS

  1. here we go again, probably the same crowd as the anti-vaxers, guided by rumor and social media miss-information even though extensive word wide studies have clearly shown that there are now harmful rays coming from 5G or any phone or TV towers, embrace progress and stop trying to blocking progress for NO valid reason

  2. Haha… Do some research..
    Microwaves aren’t good for you..
    The military uses millimetre wave technology in their ‘Active Denial Systems’ for crowd control.
    It breaks down you’re immune system, why do you think everyone got sick in Wuhan, it was the pilot city for 5G in China and got switched on on the 28th of October, 2019.
    Why do you think everyone got sick on the Princess Cruise fleet..? They just spent $450 million to upgrade their fleet to 5G, only cruise ships that have and low and behold… ‘Corona’.. Everyone’s immune system was weakened.
    Google what I’ve just told you, everyone Google it and join the dots people… It’s not hard to figure out what’s going on. Check the facts and don’t speculate or listen to baloney by paid shills.

  3. 5G in Australia is basically 4G, since they are deploying on low frequencies. Telcos have not really developed a rationale for deploying the high “mm” frequecies that people are paranoid about, since they don’t penetrate glass or travel any distance. It can really only work in sports grounds, campuses, shopping malls. For now 5G in rural areas is just more bandwidth, but the change from 4 to 5 gives the tin foil hat brigade an opportunity to claim something is different to what they just got used to. A few years ago, they were hysterical about 4 and 3 and 2.

  4. The same protesters had the same tired and disproven old arguments when 4G towers were going up. Shut their accounts down so they cant use facebook and twitter for a while and give them something real to complain about…

  5. 26000 scientists have signed the petition to not support 5G, because it isn’t safe. The 60 ghz microwave band does effect oxygen absorption inside the human body causing oxygen electrons to oscillate and not bond to red blood cells, starving the body of oxygen

  6. To Chris Walker above.You are totally wrong and your disinformation is sinister.5G is a silent weapon system mm wave directed beam energy totally illegal and unlawful. Against the people.

  7. With such brilliant brains in some local gov,s
    It is no wonder they are called KINDERGARTEN POLITICIANS, just as smart as a 5 year old with a hand grenade.

  8. Arco Iris – … I don’t need to endlessly repeat the dangers to human biology behind 5G “Technology” – Be content to live in your little private bubble if you need to, but this is adult stuff here… and the rest of us are taking it seriously…

  9. Bravo Byron Bay! It is not only 5G that is toxic to living beings at cellular level, but previous Gs too. If you want to see the scientific evidence from thousands of peer-reviewed studies, check out http://www.orsaa.org and https://bioinitiative.org/
    Australia’s risk assessment by ARPANSA has been grossly flawed with no medical expertise involved. The dubious International EMF Project at the WHO is misleading most of the world (thankfully not every country) while being funded by telcos. Those who throw away their blinkers and look at the scientific evidence find out that wireless is a serious health hazard.
    Due to the increasing complexity of 5G microwaves (enabling more efficient data transfer), there appear to be more bioreactivity (i.e. more health concerns) but we really don’t have enough scientific studies on 5G. Wireless communication is also an “energy monster” according to engineering researchers at Uni of Melb – so it is time to promote more “wired” communications to fight climate change.
    Keep the copper land lines for telephones and get as much fibre as possible to deliver high speed, safe and environmentally-friendly (on many fronts, including low energy) communications. I hope Byron Bay will show the rest of Australia what evidence-based, sensible decision making can do. If a community chose more wired communications, keeping wireless for short emergency communications only (with extensive community education on the topic), the health statistics of that population will improve. Please refer to my submission to the parliamentary 5G inquiry (number 485) for more info on this issue. I have offered to debate any expert on this topic of wireless safety on national TV for years but no one has come forward. It’s a shame that they didn’t invite me to testy in this very undemocratic 5G inquiry while offering 91% of the hearing time to proponents of wireless against 6% to opponents who made about 90% of submissions. Australia is flying blind on this issue and it is very dangerous.

  10. So it’s 03:37am here in Murwillumbah ~300metres from the new golf course 5g tower and again I cannot sleep. This tower has been up less than a week and each night since it’s construction I have been waking up between 2-4am. I am a health Care worker and in my late 20’s. I’m genuinely concerned about why after living here for 2 years and always sleeping well am I suddenly unable to sleep through the night? It’s really affecting my energy levels during the day and I seem to feel lightly nauseated when I wake up and now as I sit in the living room writing this.

  11. Until these towers are properly tested they don’t deserve to be their if they get actived I’m going to miltary base and taking them out one by one with a tank if Necessary. The 5G been tested in Italy and China. Look what’s happen covered up with a mutated none existing virus people carrying radiation a d touching others to get the same effects genocide and Chinese communist government takes part of the cake for approval of the 5G instalments in Huebei, Wuhan covering it up with a virus and blaming the locals for eating wild animals but social takes the icing not to mention Bill gates plans to make a vaccine with RFID this is global genocide and inhumane no to 5G military Grade towers

  12. Wheres the extensive research?? @Arco Iris show us the ‘extensive research’ then, because no one else has seen it or been made aware of any research of the new technology what so ever. How about you do some research. Your cell phone emits EMF radiation frequencies that cause cancer and sterility- a fact that can not be disproven. If the frequencies coming from your cell phone can cause cancer then why wouldn’t you want to question the safety of the wi-fi towers it sources its instant world wide connection from.
    Im sure you’d question living in a house situated right next to a 5G tower, so why are they putting them anywhere near schools?
    Lucky the northern rivers has a stand up community, if the rest of the world knew what was good for them they would stand together to ban it. We need to keep standing together to make sure the governments push is rejected forever.

  13. And what of the tower that was to be erected on Patterson street? Have we also stopped the installation in Byron Bay town? How will we hold them off for good?

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