Plans are underway to install a mobile phone tower at Tacoma to improve the quality of telecommunications in the area.
Don Small Oval in Woseley Ave is the preferred location for the facility which will include a 30m monopole – painted a eucalyptus green – with equipment cabinets at the base.
The overall height will be 34.6m with antennas and other telecommunications equipment turret-mounted to the monopole.
Indara and Optus have undertaken an analysis of their mobile network within Tacoma, Rocky Point and surrounding suburbs, identifying areas where coverage and network quality needs to be improved.
Having identified the need for improved network performance, the optimisation of existing Optus facilities throughout the region was explored and undertaken where possible.
In some instances network deficiencies were resolved, but the optimisation of surrounding facilities has not been able to deliver a satisfactory outcome for the network in Tacoma and surrounding areas.
The development application says that Indara and Optus investigated co-locating with other existing broadcast facilities in the area but did not identify any that met the required coverage objectives or located within the coverage area.
Other locations for the phone tower were considered: Kingsland Cl at Tacoma South and two locations at Kooindah Waters Golf Club, either rooftop or greenfield.
Don Small Oval became the preferred option as there is suitable unobstructed vacant space to provide coverage and capacity to the wider surrounding area, and according to the DA, no significant impact is expected to the current or future use of the recreational area.
Also, the proposed location in the south-west section of the land is close to an existing electrical supply as well as a telecommunications optical fibre network access point.
The site is relatively flat, has good vehicle access, and separated from any surrounding residential development or any areas of biodiversity significance.
Dense vegetation to the north and north-west is expected to provide partial screening of the telecommunications installation.
More detail can be found in the development application (DA/2020/2023) on Central Coast Council’s website and public feedback is open until Tuesday, January 30.
I live only 11 blocks from Don Small Oval & can’t wait for the mobile tower to be installed!! Thank you!! Mobile phone reception here is SHOCKING!! When will it be installed??