Optus plans new phone tower in Murray Bridge's west
The telco's customers should get faster, more reliable mobile coverage if its application is approved.
Optus customers in Murray Bridge’s west should soon get faster, more reliable mobile coverage if a new phone tower is approved.
A company called Axicom, which builds and manages phone towers, plans to build one on Short Street.
The 30-metre tower would be located around the back of a crash repair business, near the Adelaide Road cemetery and about 170 metres from the closest house.
Optus already had several base stations in Murray Bridge, Axicom said in its development application, including on Clara Street and Hindmarsh Road, at White Hill and inside the Murray Bridge Marketplace shopping centre.
However, “network performance and capacity” were not up to scratch between the central business district and White Hill, the company said.
The problems would only get worse in future, as most of Murray Bridge’s population grown was expected in that part of town.
About 30 possible sites were assessed before Axicom settled on the Short Street location.
The tower will carry 4G and 3G, but not 5G, phone signals.
Before you ask about electromagnetic radiation: both the World Health Organisation and federal government agree phone towers pose no risk to human health; and, in any case, the tower will only be capable of putting out 1.3% of the safe exposure standard set by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Members of the public have until July 5 to comment on the development application.
- Have your say: Fill in the form at planninganddesigncode.plan.sa.gov.au.
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