Woombye residents urged to maintain rage over telecom tower location

Woombye residents are being urged to maintain pressure on Sunshine Coast councillors as a crucial vote looms on a controversial telecommunications tower.

The proposed 31-metre telecom tower located at 1-9 Campbell Street, near Woombye’s town centre, has met persistent community resistance since it was first proposed in 2021. 

Woombye Community and Business Association (WCBA) president Milo Frawley said the organisation had received extensive community feedback clearly showing that while residents supported improved telecom services, the proposed tower location was strongly opposed.

“Our residents aren’t against towers generally, they just strongly object to putting one in this particular spot,” Mr Frawley said. 

“It’s simply not appropriate or in line with community expectations.”

The WCBA says the project fails key planning scheme requirements, especially the required 400-metre separation distance from residential homes. There were 94 formal submissions in opposition from within the nearly 100 homes that are inside of this radius.

Other concerns include inadequate exploration of alternative locations, potential disruption to future road alignments, questionable tower efficacy due to dense local vegetation, and the negative impact on Woombye’s heritage character. 

Health concerns relating to electromagnetic radiation remain a significant worry among locals.

“The applicant has not seriously considered alternatives after the community clearly rejected this same site previously,” Mr Frawley said.  It shouldn’t fall to residents to identify more suitable locations.” Residents now fear their sustained opposition may still fall short of influencing the council’s decision.

“Despite our strong objections, many residents feel sidelined and powerless in the process,” Mr Frawley said. 

“We urge people to continue to voice their concerns personally by emailing individual councillors directly. Each personal message carries significant weight.”

With the decision looming, Mr Frawley said residents must remain vocal to ensure councillors understand the depth of local sentiment. “The community needs to keep pressure on council and make sure their voices are genuinely heard,” he said.

The issue is yet to be put on any agenda for council.

WCBA members gathering public feedback on the proposed tower in Woombye last August