NOT happy, Telstra.
That's the message hundreds of local residents are hoping to send Shoalhaven City Council over plans to erect a 40-metre telecommunications tower off Matron Porter Drive.
The mobile phone base station would be located in the Milton Mollymook Pony Club grounds.
A 10-year-old member of the Milton Pony Club has already collected more than 350 signatures on a petition opposing the tower.
The 40-metre steel 'monopole' would accommodate six panel antennas. There would be a Telstra equipment shelter at the base of the pole and feeder cables running underground from the equipment shelter to the proposed pole.
Oxley Crescent resident Neil Smith has described the proposal as "atrocious".
"We're all fuming about it," he said.
He has raised concerns over potential health problems - particularly given the tower's proximity to homes, a church and a pre-school - and believes it should be located elsewhere.
"We know we need the towers - we just need them sited in sensible places," he said.
Secretary of the Milton Mollymook Pony Club Grounds Management Committee, Sue-Ann McNeil, said council had yet to formally notify the committee about the proposal.
"They haven't bothered to notify us," she told the Times on Monday afternoon.
Mrs McNeil said the proposed location of the tower - just inside the front gate and slightly to the left - was an integral part of the pony club grounds.
She said construction of the tower would make inter-club pony club competitions practically impossible but would also seriously impact on local pony club activities.
Mrs McNeil said the area was roped off and used for horse-free parking during inter-club competitions but also formed part of a cross-country course used by local riders for training.
Mrs McNeil also raised concerns over the positioning of the tower and associated building between the clubhouse and Matron Porter Drive.
"We're really cramped for space anyway," she said.
Oxley Crescent Wendy Hearn said she was concerned about the conflicting information available over the Internet about the health risks associated with telecommunications towers.
She said she was also concerned about the aesthetics of the tower. Oxley Crescent residents enjoyed underground tower but would be looking out their back windows to a 40-metre tower.
"It's just ridiculous ... I'm really annoyed," she said.
Ward 3 councillors Amanda Findley and Rob Miller have both expressed concern over the proposed structure.
Cr Miller said there was a need to be "precautionary" about the placement of the towers.
"Whilst there's information to say the impact from these towers is minimal, who's to know what may develop over time," Cr Miller said.
"Most communication towers are in remote areas, like Little Forest, but this is right in the middle of a residential area where's land set aside for a future school less than a block away. Is this the best possible location?
"Has Telstra researched and investigated other options in nearby bushland?
"While I understand there is a need for the facility to provide improved mobile phone service in Narrawallee and Mollymook, perhaps there is a safer location," he said.
Cr Findley wants to see a written policy in place for telecommunications towers.
While there was currently a push for telcos to use existing infrastructure, there was nothing in writing.
Cr Findley said she would be asking for councillors to be briefed on all the issues surrounding construction of mobile phone towers before moving to a policy position - either through a development control plan or other planning instrument.
In its application to council, Daly International - on behalf of Telstra - said the proposed location was the best.
"Telstra has carefully weighed potential options for alternative sites before lodging this Development Applications with council and considers this proposal to be the most appropriate solution to improve and expand mobile communications in Mollymook," it says.
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