I am a resident of Broken Head Rd, Newrybar and I am against the proposed Telstra monopole.
As yet, we have had no community consultation regarding the proposed 40-metre monopole Telstra tower and yet, four days before Christmas my neighbours have received a letter from Eleserve concerning upgrade works to the Essential Energy low/high voltage network and new pole top substation to supply the new Ampitel site on Lot 1 DP600819.
They have been notified as their home is in close proximity to these works. To my knowledge there are only two other residents/addresses that have been notified.
My objections to the tower are as follows
#There has been no community consultation or awareness with companies regarding this tower
# It has caused great disharmony and distress in our community
# It will devalue properties in our area. There are residents that will have full view of the tower. Top to bottom.
# I have grievances with one party financially benefiting from something that affects many more and causes harm and distress to others.
# We already have a 35-metre NBN tower, why do we need two? Can all services be amalgamated?
# The close proximity to homes, families, school and a koala corridor is a major concern.
I personally found out the tower was proposed at our street Christmas party on November 26, when talking to my incredibly distressed neighbour. She had questioned people on her property, who informed her they were surveying the site. This news of course spread quickly in our tight community. Since then, it feels like we have been scrambling against time and misinformation.
When contacting Telstra, they referred me to AmpIitel, I was told to register interest on the RFNSA site, (I’ve had no updated information from them since), a representative of Amplitel assured me they will be looking into the situation. The owners of the property with the NBN tower have told us they don’t want the new tower.
We have been assured that the tower is only a proposition by a representative of base station and yet it has been surveyed, pegged out, and today we receive the news that Eleserve will need to upgrade power for the new tower through yet another incredibly distressed neighbour.
How can all this happen without any community consultation?
This current information is being revealed four days before Christmas, when we now receive out of office replies, and during school holidays when most are distracted and busy with our families?
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
