← All decisions

1. What was proposedDeborah MorrisLiberal · Opposition
   Read the original wording (470 words)

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) on 11 March 2025, Indara Group lodged a development application for a 25-meter tall Optus telecommunications tower on the corner of Bugden Avenue and Nicklin Crescent in Fadden; (b) the objective of the proposed tower is to improve mobile telecommunication services, including coverage and network capacity in the Fadden area; (c) the proposed site is located in the heart of Fadden directly adjacent to a local tennis court, across the road from a children’s playground and Fadden Pond; (d) a community survey conducted by Liberal Member for Brindabella, Deborah Morris MLA, sought the views of Fadden residents on the proposed development; and (e) the survey generated 167 responses from Fadden residents which found that: (i) 79 percent of residents do not support the proposed location; (ii) 28 percent of residents are not satisfied with their mobile reception; and (iii) 51 percent of residents preferred alternative locations for the tower in Fadden; (2) further notes that: (a) the development application cited alternate locations that would achieve mobile coverage objectives including: (i) Candidate B: Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve, north of Appel Crescent and east of Erindale Drive; (ii) Candidate C: Fadden Hills Pond Public Reserve; and (iii) Candidate D: Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve, 35-39 Nicklin Crescent; (b) according to the development application, Candidates B and D were not pursued because “Whilst the elevated nature of this candidate achieved the coverage objectives, an agreement could not be reached with the land custodian”. The land in both cases is managed by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD); (c) Candidate C, which is directly adjacent to the chosen site, was not pursued due to the scenic nature of the reserve and the high environmental and visual amenity impact; (d) the community survey found 41 percent of respondents selected Candidate B: Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve, north of Appel Crescent and east of Erindale Drive as their preferred location for the development; and (e) public submissions on the development application closed on 9 April 2025, and the development application is currently being assessed; and (3) calls on the ACT Government to: (a) acknowledge the significant community disapproval to the chosen site, as demonstrated by the community survey; (b) acknowledge that the majority of residents surveyed preferred alternative locations in Fadden for the development, with 41 percent supporting Candidate B as the preferred site; (c) publish the evaluation of the EPSDD that prevented Indara Group from proceeding with Candidates B and D to the development application stage; (d) direct the EPSDD to re-evaluate the suitability of Candidates B and D to enable Indara Group to proceed with a development application for Candidates B and D for assessment; and (e) report back to the Assembly on progress by the last sitting day of May 2025. Debate ensued.

2. Proposed changeChris SteelLabor · Minister14 May 2025

   Removed the direction to re-evaluate sites B and D, and kept publishing the evaluation by the end of May 2025. Our summary, review in progress

   The exact wording of this change

   Omit all text after paragraph (3)(b), substitute: “(c) publish the evaluation undertaken by EPSDD that prevented Indara Group from proceeding with Candidates B and D to the development application stage by the end of May 2025.”. Debate continued.

   Agreed in a recorded vote, 15 to 8. Its wording is in the final text.

   Ayes 15

   • Yvette Berry, Marisa Paterson, Michael Pettersson, Tara Cheyne, Chris Steel, Rachel Stephen-Smith, Caitlin Tough, Taimus Werner-Gibbings, Suzanne Orr
   • Andrew Braddock, Shane Rattenbury, Jo Clay, Laura Nuttall
   • Fiona Carrick, Thomas Emerson

   Noes 8

   • Chiaka Barry, Peter Cain, Leanne Castley, Ed Cocks, Jeremy Hanson, James Milligan, Deborah Morris, Mark Parton
3. Proposed changeThomas EmersonIndependent · Crossbench14 May 2025

   Noted there had been several tower proposals, and asked the Government to plan ahead with the community, putting community and environment ahead of telco convenience. Our summary, review in progress

   The exact wording of this change

   together: 1. After paragraph (2)(e) insert: “(f) there have now been multiple instances of telecommunications towers being proposed in locations that do not meet community expectations.”. 2. After paragraph (3)(c) insert: “(d) consider options for the Government to forward-plan, in consultation with local community members, for the construction of optimally located telecommunications towers and other necessary infrastructure, to ensure that development decisions prioritise community preferences and environmental considerations ahead of convenience for telecommunications companies.”. Debate continued.

   Agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded. Its wording is in the final text.

4. What the Assembly decidedAgreed

   Decided on the voices: no individual votes were recorded, so this doesn’t show that every MLA agreed.

   Final agreed wording, with changes marked

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) on 11 March 2025, Indara Group lodged a development application for a 25-meter tall Optus telecommunications tower on the corner of Bugden Avenue and Nicklin Crescent in Fadden; (b) the objective of the proposed tower is to improve mobile telecommunication services, including coverage and network capacity in the Fadden area; (c) the proposed site is located in the heart of Fadden directly adjacent to a local tennis court, across the road from a children’s playground and Fadden Pond; (d) a community survey conducted by Liberal Member for Brindabella, Deborah Morris MLA, sought the views of Fadden residents on the proposed development; and (e) the survey generated 167 responses from Fadden residents which found that: (i) 79 percent of residents do not support the proposed location; (ii) 28 percent of residents are not satisfied with their mobile reception; and (iii) 51 percent of residents preferred alternative locations for the tower in Fadden; (2) further notes that: (a) the development application cited alternate locations that would achieve mobile coverage objectives including: (i) Candidate B: Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve, north of Appel Crescent and east of Erindale Drive; (ii) Candidate C: Fadden Hills Pond Public Reserve; and (iii) Candidate D: Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve, 35-39 Nicklin Crescent; (b) according to the development application, Candidates B and D were not pursued because “Whilst the elevated nature of this candidate achieved the coverage objectives, an agreement could not be reached with the land custodian”. The land in both cases is managed by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD); (c) Candidate C, which is directly adjacent to the chosen site, was not pursued due to the scenic nature of the reserve and the high environmental and visual amenity impact; (d) the community survey found 41 percent of respondents selected Candidate B: Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve, north of Appel Crescent and east of Erindale Drive as their preferred location for the development; (e) public submissions on the development application closed on 9 April 2025, and the development application is currently being assessed; and (f) there have now been multiple instances of telecommunications towers being proposed in locations that do not meet community expectationsEmerson; and (3) calls on the ACT Government to: (a) acknowledge the significant community disapproval to the chosen site, as demonstrated by the community survey; (b) acknowledge that the majority of residents surveyed preferred alternative locations in Fadden for the development, with 41 percent supporting Candidate B as the preferred site; (c) publish the evaluation undertaken by EPSDD that prevented Indara Group from proceeding with Candidates B and D to the development application stage by the end of May 2025Steel; and (d) consider options for the Government to forward-plan, in consultation with local community members, for the construction of optimally located telecommunications towers and other necessary infrastructure, to ensure that development decisions prioritise community preferences and environmental considerations ahead of convenience for telecommunications companiesEmerson.

   Original and final wording compared

   taken out put in

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) on 11 March 2025, Indara Group lodged a development application for a 25-meter tall Optus telecommunications tower on the corner of Bugden Avenue and Nicklin Crescent in Fadden; (b) the objective of the proposed tower is to improve mobile telecommunication services, including coverage and network capacity in the Fadden area; (c) the proposed site is located in the heart of Fadden directly adjacent to a local tennis court, across the road from a children’s playground and Fadden Pond; (d) a community survey conducted by Liberal Member for Brindabella, Deborah Morris MLA, sought the views of Fadden residents on the proposed development; and (e) the survey generated 167 responses from Fadden residents which found that: (i) 79 percent of residents do not support the proposed location; (ii) 28 percent of residents are not satisfied with their mobile reception; and (iii) 51 percent of residents preferred alternative locations for the tower in Fadden; (2) further notes that: (a) the development application cited alternate locations that would achieve mobile coverage objectives including: (i) Candidate B: Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve, north of Appel Crescent and east of Erindale Drive; (ii) Candidate C: Fadden Hills Pond Public Reserve; and (iii) Candidate D: Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve, 35-39 Nicklin Crescent; (b) according to the development application, Candidates B and D were not pursued because “Whilst the elevated nature of this candidate achieved the coverage objectives, an agreement could not be reached with the land custodian”. The land in both cases is managed by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD); (c) Candidate C, which is directly adjacent to the chosen site, was not pursued due to the scenic nature of the reserve and the high environmental and visual amenity impact; (d) the community survey found 41 percent of respondents selected Candidate B: Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve, north of Appel Crescent and east of Erindale Drive as their preferred location for the development; [taken out: and](e) public submissions on the development application closed on 9 April 2025, and the development application is currently being assessed; and [put in: (f) there have now been multiple instances of telecommunications towers being proposed in locations that do not meet community expectations; and](3) calls on the ACT Government to: (a) acknowledge the significant community disapproval to the chosen site, as demonstrated by the community survey; (b) acknowledge that the majority of residents surveyed preferred alternative locations in Fadden for the development, with 41 percent supporting Candidate B as the preferred site; (c) publish the evaluation [taken out: of the][put in: undertaken by]EPSDD that prevented Indara Group from proceeding with Candidates B and D to the development application stage [taken out: (d) direct the EPSDD to re-evaluate][put in: by]the [taken out: suitability][put in: end]of [taken out: Candidates B][put in: May 2025;]and (d) [taken out: to enable Indara Group][put in: consider options for the Government]to [taken out: proceed][put in: forward-plan, in consultation]with [taken out: a development application for Candidates B and D][put in: local community members,]for [taken out: assessment;][put in: the construction of optimally located telecommunications towers]and [taken out: (e) report back][put in: other necessary infrastructure,]to [taken out: the Assembly on progress by the last sitting day][put in: ensure that development decisions prioritise community preferences and environmental considerations ahead]of [taken out: May 2025. Debate ensued.][put in: convenience for telecommunications companies.]

   Compared word by word by computer, ignoring punctuation. It shows what differs, not which change made each difference; the steps above show that.