MCU18.0166 - Response to Information Request

    2. Include a montage of the finished tower and associated aerials in all view photographs that
       enables visual impacts to be understood.

An in-depth view analysis of all photograph locations has been provided within the VIAR (Refer Appendix A
– Visual Impact Assessment Report). Due to the large distances afforded from viewpoints in the wider area,
photomontages have only been provided from two nearby viewpoints. In accordance with the findings of the
VIAR, the proposed facility will not have an adverse visual impact on the wider area. A detailed analysis
outlining the level of impact when viewed from the wider area is contained within the VIAR.

    3. Include addresses of the nearest properties that relates to each figure.

The address of the nearest property to each viewpoint location has been included in the VIAR (Appendix A
– Visual Impact Assessment Report).


    4. Provide details about the extent of height associated aerials protruding above the 35 m height of
       the actual tower.

The total height of the monopole is 35 m. The associated headframe and antennas will protrude above the
height of the monopole by no more than 1 m in length. Drawing No. 4POM-51-45-CRNA-C4 within Appendix
B – Amended Proposal Plans and Earthworks Plan, outline the overall height of the facility at 36 m. Please
note that the location of the proposed facility has been relocated approximately 15 m to the north west as a
more structurally suitable area to establish the foundation. The amended proposal plans have also been
separately attached in this submission for future reference. The VIAR is reflective of the changed location.


Comparison between existing and proposed tower

    5. Provide information that identifies the impacts (amenity/visual/health) of upgrading the existing
       structure in comparison with the proposed structure in the chosen 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. The investigation concluded that the existing Telstra facility
cannot be upgraded to accommodate nbn equipment due to the limited availability of space on the existing
monopole and due to structural limitations. The existing facility would need to be swapped out for a
substantially taller lattice tower structure to achieve coverage to the targeted service area incorporating
Cooran, parts of Pomona and parts of Traverston. To avoid constructing a more visually intrusive lattice
structure, the proposed facility incorporating a relatively low height slim line monopole has been strategically
located at a higher elevation than the existing Telstra facility to minimise the height required to achieve
acceptable coverage to the target area.

In addition to incurring a greater visual impact, nbn has determined that the swap out of the existing Telstra
facility would incur significant additional expenditure of public funding. Such costings include; the
construction cost of removing the existing monopole and erecting a larger lattice tower, the cost implications
of temporarily turning off Telstra and Vodafone services during construction and the cost of reinstalling
carrier equipment once construction of the new structure has been completed.

Information regarding the safety of the existing Telstra facility and the proposed facility is outlined in
response to point 7.




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