2020-02-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               11 FEBRUARY 2020


area. The NBN rollout map shown in Figure 8 below illustrates the areas that currently have access
to fixed wireless and fixed line NBN services. The pin shown on the rollout map shows the location
of the proposed tower. Based on information provided by the applicant, the coverage from this
tower will predominantly be to the south and south-east of this location in the area with no
coverage.




                             Figure 8 – NBN Rollout map as at January 2020

3.4. Telecommunications Act
Under the Telecommunications Act 1997, a tower as proposed by this application is considered as
a ‘high impact facility’ requiring Council approval. Once a high impact facility is approved, the
provider can make changes without Council approval if it complies with the provisions of a ‘low
impact facility’ under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (under
the Telecommunications Act 1997).
Low-impact facilities are those which, because of their size and location, are considered to have a
low visual impact and be less likely to raise significant planning, heritage or environmental
concerns.’ The relevant parameters for facilities to be considered low impact includes the following:
    Extension to an existing tower not exceeding 5 metres (only 1 extension allowed in a rural
      area);
    Panel, yagi or antenna (flush mounted to an existing structure), not more than 2.8 metres
      long and protruding not more than 3 metres from the structure;
    Radio or satellite communications dish not more than 1.8 metres in diameter (if attached to
      supporting structure) and colour matched;
    Omnidirectional antenna, not more than 4.5 metres long and not more than 5 metres apart
      and does not protrude from the structure than more than 2 metres;
    Equipment installed inside the structure.
The abovementioned legislation is considered relevant to the assessment of the application as the
Telecommunications Act 1997 authorises low impact facilities to be installed without approval of

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