Ordinary Meeting of Council
4 November 2015
3.10
Ward:
PROPOSED TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER - LOT 3001 (NO.173)
MULGUL RD, MALAGA (DA595-15)
(Ballajura Ward)
(Statutory Planning)
Disclosure of Interest: Nil
Authorised Officer: (Executive Manager Planning and Development)
KEY ISSUES
•
The application proposes the installation of a new telecommunication
monopole, equipment shelter at ground level, installation of ancillary
equipment, cabling, access and safety facilities at Lot 3001 (No.173) Mulgul
Drive, Malaga.
•
The property is zoned ‘Industrial’ under the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS)
and ‘General Industrial’ under the City’s Local Planning No.17 (LPS17).
•
The 25m tall pole is proposed to replace an existing 40m tall lattice tower
located on land owned by Main Roads WA at Lot 299 Victoria Road which is
within the reservation required for the future North Link construction.
•
The application was advertised for a period of 14 days to landowners within
200m of the subject site. A total of 6 submissions were received of which 5
objected to the proposal and 1 cited no objection.
•
The submissions received primarily raised concern with potential health
impacts and the potential impact on the visual amenity.
•
The application is consistent with Council’s Policy on Telecommunications
Infrastructure and State Planning Policy 5.2 in terms of its siting in an
industrial zone and mitigation of impact on the building and natural
environment and the amenity of the locality.
It is recommended that the Council resolve to approve the proposed
Telecommunications Infrastructure at Lot 3001 (No.173) Mulgul Road, Malaga.
AUTHORITY/DISCRETION
Council has discretion in accordance with Clause 10.3 of Local Planning Scheme No.17
(LPS17) to approve (with or without conditions) or refuse the application. If the applicant
is aggrieved with the decision of Council, a right of appeal may exist in accordance with
Part 3 of the State Administrative Tribunal Act and Part 14 of the Planning and
Development Act 2005.
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Ordinary Meeting of Council
4 November 2015
BACKGROUND
Applicant:
Owner:
Zoning:
LPS17 MRS Strategy/Policy:
Development Scheme:
Existing Land Use:
Lot Size:
Use Class:
Metasite Pty Ltd on behalf of Telstra Corporation Ltd
Venetian Nominees Pty Ltd (Maddeliene Caratti, Aaron
Grant Caratti and John Michael Caratti)
General Industrial
Industrial
WAPC
State
Planning
Policy
SPP
5.2
–
Telecommunications Infrastructure
POL-C-059 - Telecommunication (Mobile Phone)
Facilities
Local Planning Scheme No.17
Factory/Office
6625m2
Telecommunications Facility 'D'
DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL
The new 25m tall telecommunications monopole and new fenced compound area on Lot
3001 (No.173) Mulgul Road, Malaga is proposed to replace an existing 40m tall lattice
tower located on land owned by Main Roads at Lot 299 Victoria Road. This land is part of
the reservation required for the future North Link construction.
The new facility will consist of:
•
one 25m tall monopole with attached headframe;
•
six panel antennas mounted on a triangular headframe with six remote radio
units;
•
ancillary equipment associated with the operation of the facility including cable
trays and cabling;
•
one equipment shelter at the base of the monopole; and
•
safety facilities.
DESCRIPTION OF SITE
The site is located on the northern side of Mulgul Road on the corner of Mulgul Road and
Resource Way. The lot is 6,625m2 and is currently occupied by a large building (used as
a factory) in the north east corner of the site with the western side of the property used
for storage of equipment associated with the proposal. The proposed monopole location
is currently unoccupied
Surrounding the subject lot are other industrial uses predominantly large factory
buildings.
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SITE HISTORY/PREVIOUS APPROVALS
2005 – Factory building approved
APPLICANT'S SUBMISSION
"The telecommunications facility is necessary as a replacement site to the existing
Telstra facility at Lot 299 Victoria Rd, Malaga. The replacement site is needed to ensure
the continuity of coverage to satisfy customer demand for voice coverage and data
technology (2G, 3G & 4G mobile and wireless broadband coverage) in the Beechboro and
Malaga area of Perth.
This position was selected for several reasons: it would require no clearing of vegetation,
achieves reasonable separation distance to residential dwellings in the surrounding area,
will achieve the desired coverage objectives of Telstra, and finally, as the proposal is to
replace an existing nearby lattice tower with a new monopole any new visual impacts will
be limited.
In relation to public safety and specifically Electromagnetic Emissions (EME) and public
health, Telstra operates within the operational standards set by the Australian
Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) and Australian Radiation Protection and
Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). ARPANSA is a Federal Government agency
incorporated under the Health and Ageing portfolio and is charged with the responsibility
for protecting the health and safety of both people and the environment from the
harmful effects of radiation (ionising and non-ionising).
All Telstra installations are designed and certified by qualified professionals in accordance
with all relevant Australian Standards. This ensures that the Telstra facility does not
result in any increase in the level of risk to the public. This facility is to be operated in
compliance with the ACMA mandatory standard for human exposure to EME - currently
the Radio communications (Electromagnetic Radiation Human Exposure) Standard 2003.
Moreover, all Telstra equipment has the following features which minimise the amounts
of energy used and emitted:
•
Dynamic/ Adaptive Power Control is a network feature that automatically adjusts the
power and hence minimises EME from both the base station and the handset;
•
Adjustment of the number of transmitters in use to meet the active telephone traffic
minimises EME from the network;
•
Varying the base station's transmit power to the minimal required level, minimising
EME from the network; and
•
Discontinuous transmission is a feature that reduces EME emissions by automatically
switching the transmitter off when no speech or data is being sent."
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PUBLIC CONSULTATION
In accordance with the City’s POL-C-059 Telecommunication (Mobile Phone) Facilities
Policy the application was advertised to landowners within 200m of the subject lot.
At the close of advertising 6 submissions were received, of which 5 objected to the
proposal and 1 letter cited no objection.
The submissions primarily raised concern with potential health impacts and amenity
issues. The concerns raised are addressed in the ‘details’ section of the report.
DETAILS
The subject lot is zoned ‘Industrial’ under the MRS and ‘General Industrial’ under the
City’s LPS17.
The proposed use is classified as ‘Telecommunications Infrastructure’ which is a
discretionary 'D' use in the zone.
Local Planning Scheme No.17
City of Swan Policy Pol-C-059 Telecommunications (Mobile Phone) Facilities
The application has been considered in relation to the requirements of Clause 5.8 of the
City’s Scheme Telecommunications Infrastructure which outlines the following
objectives:
(a) To encourage co-location as a means of preventing unnecessary proliferation and
duplication of such infrastructure;
The applicant has included a report in their submission outlining a number of sites
that were identified for the installation of the infrastructure. This included potential
for co-location of the infrastructure on existing monopoles in the area. Unfortunately
the existing services in the area could not accommodate the infrastructure of this
service and a new pole is required. The 25m pole is proposed to replace an existing
40m lattice tower located on land owned by Main Roads WA at Lot 299 Victoria Road
which is within the reservation required for the future North Link construction. As
the facility is being developed to replace an existing facility it is necessary to locate
the replacement facility close to the original facility to ensure that the coverage in
the area is not significantly affected. The design of the monopole will enable future
upgrades and reduce the need for additional monopoles or towers in the future in
the nearby area.
(b) To minimise the visual impact of such infrastructure on the surrounding locality;
The City has prepared POL-C-059 Telecommunications (Mobile Phone) Facilities
policy to guide the assessment of these facilities. The policy outlines objectives for
minimising the visual impact on the built and natural environment. These are
outlined as follows:
-
Facilities to be constructed as a slimline monopole, with capacity for at least three
carriers and with flush mounted equipment;
-
Avoidance of locations within heritage places;
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-
Presumption against location in a zone where residential development is the
primary intent; and
-
Setback a minimum of 200 metres from any dwelling or residential zoned land.
The proposed infrastructure is a 25m high monopole which replaces the existing 40m
lattice tower. The top of the pole will have a 3m triangular headframe, which has been
designed so that other carriers or upgraded facilities can be attached in the future.
The lot is zoned 'General Industrial' and is located more than 200m away from any
Residential zoned land. While it is proposed to locate this structure within the front
setback of the lot which is considered to have minimal impact, it is not possible to locate
the pole at the rear of the site as 24hour secure access is required to be available. When
viewed from the street all that will be visible at pedestrian and vehicle level is the pole;
the panels will be located at the top of the pole 25m above the ground. The pole will be
fenced with 2.4m high security fencing which will blend with existing fencing in the area.
The surrounding landscape is characterised by industrial buildings that are generally
between 5m-8m in height and constructed of tilt-up concrete panelling, therefore the
monopole is not considered to be out of character with the existing environment.
WAPC State Planning Policy SPP5.2 – Telecommunications Infrastructure
SPP5.2 acknowledges the importance of providing telecommunication services to the
community through the rollout of new networks but seeks for these to be developed in a
manner that minimises the visual impact within the locality. The monopole will provide
high quality 2G, 3G and 4G mobile and wireless broadband service which will ensure
continuity and also provide voice coverage. The installation will address a number of
identified issues relating to mobile coverage, network capacity and the quality of mobile
telephone calls.
The SPP encourages the location of infrastructure to minimise the visual impact by
avoiding lookouts, detracting from significant view of a heritage item, place or landscape
and not located on sites with environmental, cultural heritage or social and visual
landscape values. As outlined above the monopole is to be located within an industrial
area and is considered commensurate with the amenity prevailing therein.
Health Impact
Submissions received raised concern about future health issues associated with the
exposure to electromagnetic emissions.
The City’s policy acknowledges the investigations and findings of Commonwealth
government agencies that telecommunications infrastructure such as that which is
proposed do not emit levels of electromagnetic energy recognised as being harmful to
human health.
A recent report (March 2014) prepared by the Australian Radiation Protection and
Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) Radiofrequency Expert Panel on the Review of
Radiofrequency Health Effects Research – Scientific Literature 2000-2012 concludes that
the underlying basis of the ARPANSA RF Exposure Standard remains sound and that the
exposure limits in the Standard continue to provide a high degree of protection against
known health effects of RF electromagnetic fields. Measurement surveys by ARPANSA
demonstrate that environmental radiofrequency levels near base stations for the mobile
telephone network are extremely low.
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The City’s policy is consistent with State Policy in acknowledging that unsubstantiated
concerns for public health cannot form the basis for refusal of applications for
telecommunications facilities.
OPTIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
Option 1:
Council may resolve to grant approval for the Telecommunications
Infrastructure (installation of a new telecommunication monopole,
equipment shelter at ground level and installation of ancillary equipment,
cabling, access and safety facilities) at Lot 3001 (No.173) Mulgul Road,
Malaga subject to conditions.
Implications: The development can proceed.
This is the recommended option.
Option 2:
The Council may resolve to refuse the proposed Telecommunications
Infrastructure (installation of a new telecommunication monopole,
equipment shelter at ground level and installation of ancillary equipment,
cabling, access and safety facilities) at Lot 3001 (No.173) Mulgul Road,
Malaga for the following reasons:
1.
The telecommunications infrastructure proposed will have an adverse
impact on the visual amenity of the locality.
2.
The telecommunications infrastructure proposed may have potential
health issues associated with exposure to electronic emissions.
Implications: The applicant will have a right of Review by the State Administrative
Tribunal.
This is not the recommended option.
CONCLUSION
The application proposes installation of a new telecommunication monopole, equipment
shelter at ground level, installation of ancillary equipment, cabling, access and safety
facilities at Lot 3001 (No.173) Mulgul Drive, Malaga.
The 25m tall monopole is proposed to replace an existing 40m lattice tower located in
land owned by Main Roads at Lot 299 Victoria Road which is within the reservation
required for the future North Link construction.
The application was advertised for a period of 14 days to landowners within 200m of the
subject site. A total of 6 submissions were received of which 5 objected to the proposal
and one was a letter citing no objection.
The application is consistent with Council’s Policy on Telecommunications Infrastructure
and State Planning Policy 5.2 in terms of its siting in an industrial zone and its impact on
the building and natural environment and the amenity of the locality.
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Ordinary Meeting of Council
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ATTACHMENTS
Location map
Image of current tower
Site layout plan
Antenna layout
Elevation
STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS
Nil
STATUTORY IMPLICATIONS
Local Planning Scheme No.17
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Nil
VOTING REQUIREMENTS
Simple majority
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Ordinary Meeting of Council
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RECOMMENDATION
That the Council resolve to:
1)
Grant approval for the proposed Telecommunications Infrastructure (installation
of a new telecommunication monopole, equipment shelter at ground level and
installation of ancillary equipment, cabling, access and safety facilities) at Lot
3001 (No.173) Mulgul Road, Malaga subject to the following conditions:
1. This approval is for “Telecommunications Infrastructure” (installation of a new
25m monopole, equipment shelter, fenced compound area and ancillary
equipment) as defined in the City’s Local Planning Scheme No.17 and the
subject land may not be used for any other use without the prior approval of
the City.
2. The applicant is to ascertain the location and depth of any services that may
interfere with this development. Any adjustment to these services required as
part of this approval, must be arranged by the applicant prior to works
commencing on the site. Any adjustment must be approved by the relevant
service authorities and will be at the applicant's expense.
3. Any additional development, which is not in accordance with the application
(the subject of this approval) or any condition of approval, will require further
approval of the City.
ADVICE NOTES:
Standard advice notes apply.
2)
Advise the applicant/owner of the resolution of Council and relevant advice notes
pertaining to the approval.
3)
Advise those that lodged a submission of the Council's decision.
CARRIED
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