MCU18.0166 - Response to Information Request

    6. Provide a visual analysis that relates to the Figures relating to item 2 of this information request
       around the upgrade of the existing tower compared with a new tower in the proposed location.

An investigation towards co-locating equipment on the nearby existing Telstra facility has been provided in
Section 3.3.1 of the development application and in response to point 5 above. As co-location is not a viable
option from a visual impact perspective or a cost perspective, no comparison study has been undertaken.
However, the VIAR attached in Appendix A – Visual Impact Assessment Report has concluded that the
level of impact from each viewpoint is either Minor Adverse or Negligible. The level of impact incorporates
factors such as distance, scale, landform & contrast, scale of land use, backdrop and form. The methodology
is further outlined in Section 2 of the VIAR. nbn is therefore able to conclude in confidence that the proposed
facility, albeit an additional structure to the area, will not have an adverse impact on the visual amenity of
the immediate or wider area.

    7. Provide details relating the EMS levels associated with the existing communication tower and its
       potential upgrade and compare this to the proposed tower.

The maximum EME level of the existing Telstra facility is 2.33% of the allowable safety standard, that is, 42
times below the safety standard level (where 100% is still considered safe). The Telstra facility EME Report
is attached in Appendix C – EME Reports.

The maximum EME level of the proposed nbn facility is even lower than the existing Telstra facility, running
at 0.31% of the allowable safety standard, that is, 322 times below the safety standard. The proposed nbn
facility EME Report is contained in Appendix C – EME Reports.

nbn and its contractors continue to encourage any concerned individuals to contact the Australian Radiation
Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) in the Federal Department of Health for independent
advice; their free call number is 1800 022 333. ARPANSA is the public health authority charged with the
task of recommending Australian safety standards for radio communications networks. Alternatively, a
series of Health and Safety Fact Sheets offered to the public during the community information session is
contained in Appendix D – Health and Safety Fact Sheets.

    8. Address potential amenity/visual/health impacts that may relate to the 2 closest neighbours. The
       closest neighbours house is 110 m away and is orientated towards the tower.

The VIAR, included in Appendix A – Visual Impact Assessment Report, has assessed potential amenity
impacts from publicly accessible areas adjacent to the two closest dwellings of neighbouring properties.
Two separate cross section diagrams have been provided within the VIAR, allowing the reader to easily
identify the effectiveness of natural screening of vegetation located between the dwelling and the proposed
facility. It is evident from these diagrams that existing vegetation will screen the majority of the proposed
facility resulting in a minor adverse visual impact from the two closest dwellings.

The closest dwelling has been nominated as points of interest within the EME report (Appendix C – EME
Reports). It is noted that the maximum percentage of ARPANSA exposure at the closest dwelling is
0.00017%. This is approximately 588,235 times below the safety standard, where 100% exposure is still
considered safe. In accordance with the precautionary principle and ARPANSA guidelines, nbn does not
consider that any health impacts will result from the proposed facility.




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