Council
28 August, 2025
Council denies eyesore tower
CORANGAMITE Shire councillors have unanimously opposed a planning permit application which would have seen a more than thirty-metre telecommunications tower installed in the heart of Noorat.
Councillors at this week’s Ordinary Meeting of Council rejected a planning permit application for a telecommunications facility at 12 Glenormiston Road following widespread public backlash against the proposal.
As Western District Newspapers previously reported, Telstra had received more than $700,000 in federal funding in May 2022 to install a macro cell mobile tower at Mount Noorat to improve connectivity in Noorat and surrounds.
Following the allocation of funding, Telstra attempted to pivot the tower’s location to the Telstra Exchange, directly beside the historic Presbyterian Church.
The move drew the ire of the community, not only for the impact the tower would have on Noorat’s visual amenity but because the site would strip Glenormiston and Kolora from any meaningful boost to mobile signal.
In response to the application, Corangamite Shire received 11 submissions, a petition against the tower containing 133 signatures and a sizeable audience in attendance at this week’s council meeting to speak against the proposal during public participation.
Councillor Geraldine Conheady spoke against the proposal as mover, saying Telstra’s application failed the Noorat and district community in every meaningful aspect of planning.
“We are charged with a decision that must balance careful, continued improvement of mobile services without adverse impacts on surrounding environment and assess net community benefit,” she said.
“There is no aversion to change or new construction, but there is an expectation that new infrastructure must be carefully balanced, complimentary or adequately screened in its location to be acceptable.
“Not one of these requirements can be achieved by this application and would become worse with additional equipment mounted on the proposed tower in ensuing years.”
Cr Conheady hit back at Telstra’s claims the telecommunications tower would “integrate well” within the heart of the village.
“The application site is within Noorat township, immediately adjacent to the township precinct which is under heritage overlay and directly beside the Neil Black Presbyterian Church and hall,” she said.
“These are buildings of great historic significance to the Noorat district and possibly the most important structures within the town.
“At a height of 31.3 metres this proposed tower will rise substantially above all surrounding buildings and dominate viewpoints throughout Noorat and from approaches over a substantial distance.
“This is a structure completely at odds with the town and would have a high, adverse visual impact to an extent that could never be recovered.”
Cr Conheady slammed Telstra as having sold the public on a preferable proposal when applying for more than $700,000 in taxpayer funding before backtracking in a bid to save money, despite having posted annual profits in excess of $2.3 billion this past financial year.
“When the initial funding application was developed, Telstra’s intent was to co-locate their equipment on the existing infrastructure on Mount Noorat, which Telstra representatives acknowledge would provide the best outcome for Noorat, Glenormiston and Kolora,” she said.
“Telstra sought the support of Noorat and Glenormiston residents, and council, for this funding application and have now reverted to an inferior proposal that will not deliver the optimum signal improvement that is possible.
“Locals are keen for improvement in their communications and recognise the importance for growth, business and emergency services – but they also reasonably expect a better than mediocre uplift in services and a properly balanced outcome.
“It is apparent Telstra has made a commercial decision, citing costs and other barriers that accords with their own criteria but does not deliver in the best interests of Noorat, Kolora and Glenormiston communities or, potentially, the purposes of the funding.”
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