Council has rejected a lease agreement with Optus for a telecommunications pole to be installed at Bob Pettitt Reserve in Jan Juc.

At its 22 July Council meeting, Councillors voted against entering into a lease agreement for the 26-metre monopole to replace the existing 18-metre light tower closest to the Bob Pettitt Pavilion.

It follows the community engagement process held earlier this year in which 89 submissions were received. Of the submission received, 79 objected to the proposed Optus tower and 10 were in support of it.

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback as part of the engagemnent process.

Read our media release.

The Jan Juc and Torquay area has been identified as a target area under the State Government’s Connecting Victoria Mobile Program (CVMP). The CVMP is a State Government program investing $300 million aimed to improve coverage capacity of mobile networks across the state.

Optus has approached Council to consider entering into a lease agreement for the purpose of replacing the existing 18 meter south-west light tower with a 25 meter telecommunications monopole and associated infrastructure. This new facility would improve mobile coverage and access to mobile services in the Jan Juc area.

Optus proposed to replace the existing 18-meter south west tower with a 25-meter telecommunications monopole and associated infrastructure. The proposed monopole would increase Optus serviceability of the Jan Juc area and would be a joint venture with Vodafone.

The telecommunications monopole would use 4G and 5G technology.

Thanks to everyone who submitted feedback on this proposal. The submission period has now closed. Council will consider the submissions and and schedule hearings if required at the May Council Meeting.