Clubs to cash in on poles

By Melissa Meehan
LOCAL sporting reserves could receive big bucks if the council continues its stance on mobile phone towers.
At Monday night’s council meeting councillors voted in favour of two separate proposals that will see phone towers built at the Officer Recreation Reserve and Toomuc Recreation Reserve, Pakenham – under a leasing agreement that will give reserve committees $16,000 a year for 20 years.
Councillor Collin Ross said mobile and wireless coverage wasn’t great in some areas of the shire, and bringing in extra towers could solve that issue as well as giving money back to the community.
“We are one of very few councils to make it possible for these phone companies to rent on our land, and then pass it onto the reserve committees,” Cr Ross said.
“It’s a very good outcome to help fund these reserves and brings better phone coverage for our communities.”
His colleague councillor Brett Owen also applauded Optus for working with the community about their concerns – deciding not to use a light pole as first proposed following concerns raised by residents.
“We had many complaints during February’s floods about the lack of mobile phone coverage – hopefully this will help with that,” he said.
“I think its great for our community – bringing better coverage and giving money back.”
Councillors then took part in a heated debate about whether all funds from the multiple lease of phone towers on any one reserve should be passed back to the reserve committees or should go back to council to be shared with other reserves. A decision on that policy will be made later this year.