Mobile Phone Coverage in the Bay

COMMUNICATION  SERVICES  TO  GRACETOWN

Meeting 2nd March 2011 at Gracetown hall with 2/Telstra (site engineers), 2/Aurecon (site consultants for Telstra) and 1/Landcorp (communications consultant) representatives re communications and in particular mobile phone coverage to Gracetown and surrounds.

The meeting discussed locations and the community requirements from a communications tower,   including the GPA policy from 2004 in which we wanted a greater mobile phone coverage than just  Gracetown, and should include:

u The sections of the Cape to Cape Walk Track adjacent to Gracetown.

u Claret Ash Court and Sea Hawk Rest residential areas (sometimes known as Gracetown Heights).

u The Gracetown Caravan Park (near the NW corner of the intersection of Caves and Cowaramup Bay Roads).

u The ocean beaches to the West and the South of Gracetown (eg the surfing breaks called Lefthanders, Cobblestones, Bigrock and Thunder Bay).

u The ocean beaches to the North of Gracetown (eg Throwups, Castle Rock, Guillotines and Gallows).

u The ocean area used by boats for recreation (launching from the Cowaramup Bay boat ramp) and for commercial fishing (mooring in Cowaramup Bay) and for jetboat tow in surfing on Cowaramup Reef.

Other possible users of a communications tower would be FESA, Sea Search and Rescue, the local Fire Service and the Police.

Maps and aerial photos were examined and it was agreed that a tower to 50m height above ground level in the old tip site would cover the above requirements. The main problems would be power to the site and a 50m tower would break the skyline. The Landcorp consultant would put forward  for Landcorp to contribute toward a temporary power line to the site as power would be needed for the waste water treatment plant construction and running prior to the new residential development being opened. The second problem of breaking the skyline was the likely objection from DEC. It would help our cause  to let DEC and Telstra know that there is full community backing for the tower even if there is the possibility of breaking the skyline. The other community groups that have been contacted for support are the Margaret River Boardriders, Gracetown Bush Fire Brigade and Margaret River Sea  Rescue.

The old tip site has been inspected by all the above representatives.

The tower would be available for use by other mobile phone service providers and other communications.

Bruce Macaulay

March  2011.

 All Submissions on your thoughts to be directed to the Gracetown Progress Association