Updated
Residents fighting a proposed mini mobile phone base station at Caringbah South have been assured their local member, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will continue to “pursue the matter”.
Several residents with serious health problems, as well as young families, live close to the site at 59 Castlenau Street, where Telstra proposes to install the facility on a power pole.
A spokesman for Mr Morrison rejected as “completely false" Labor councillor Barry Collier’s claim concerns had been ignored by Telstra contractor, federal Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield and Mr Morrison.
Sutherland Shire mayor Carmelo Pesce also rejected the claim.
Cr Pesce told the council meeting where the matter was raised he had discussed it personally with Mr Morrison, as well as his electoral staff.
Mr Morrison’s spokeswoman said a resident who was leading the way on the issue contacted the Cook MP’s office at the end of September after residents were notified of the proposal.
“The close for public objections to Telstra’s submission was October 19,” she said.
“Shortly after this date, we were then approached by other concerned residents.
“At which time, we contacted our Telstra representatives, Minister Fifield’s office and Sutherland Shire Council.
“All residents were replied to on the basis of their individual correspondence.
“One resident also prior to contacting our office received a response directly from the minister on October 30 in response to an email he sent directly on October 8.”
The spokeswoman said the agenda of Mr Morrison’s electoral staff was to seek a meeting with residents, Telstra and the council.
”This was able to be arranged, with numerous correspondence to the residents throughout November, with an agreed date of December 11,” she said.
The meeting had taken place on December 11, as scheduled, in Mr Morrison’s Cronulla electoral office and was attended by three residents, four Telstra representatives, Cr Pesce and Mr Morrison’s electorate manager.
“We all agreed that the meeting went well and the Mayor and I felt that the residents voices had been heard,” she said
The spokeswoman said Telstra had committed to come back to the group with feedback on the issues raised at the meeting, and reassured them that no decision has been made.
“Mr Morrison and the mayor will continue to pursue this matter with Telstra and ensure the residents objections are taken seriously,” she said.
Cr Collier replied that he “would not have written lengthy four-page representations, complete with medical reports, and personally delivered them to Mr Morrison’s office had residents, who contacted me out of desperation, been getting the support and direction they deserved”.
“Sadly, it took urgent representations from me plus a Council motion formulated by me to get Mr Morrison’s office moving,” he said.
Mr Collier said residents told him they had not received any meaningful response from Minister Fyfield or Mr Morrison’s office or the Victorian telco contractor, which had also previously ignored letters from the council.
“Residents with very serious personal and family health problems told me that when they approached Mr Morrison’s office in late September, they were advised ‘to get a petition going and find an alternative location for the Telstra mobile station’,” he said.
“That, in my view, was simply outrageous, given Mr Morrison’s access to resources and the exclusive power given by the Australian Constitution to the Commonwealth Government.”
