The proposed telecommunications tower planned for the Hemaford Grove Reserve in Gawler East will be discussed at a community meeting to be held at 10:30 am this coming Saturday, 13th January 2024.
The community meeting has been arranged by local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo, in response to concerns raised by local residents.
Mr Piccolo said that he has arranged the meeting to ensure that he hears the concerns of local residents firsthand.
“While telecommunications law is a federal government responsibility, as a local member of parliament, I have a duty to assist residents in understanding the processes involved and how they can participate, to ensure their voices are heard,” said Mr Piccolo.
“Telecommunications law is quite complex, so if residents are going to be effective in their representations, they need to address the right issues with the right decision makers”.
Mr Piccolo said he will be having discussions with the Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) prior to the community meeting to ensure he fully understands how the system works.
“Before I can support my local residents, I need to understand how these particular laws work so I have arranged a meeting with ACMA representatives,” said Mr Piccolo.
“This particular proposal is complicated by the fact that it needs to go through two separate processes.”
“The matter will be considered by the Town of Gawler Assessment Panel under planning and development rules, and secondly by the Council in its own right as the owner of the land.”
“The reserve is also community land and Council has to go through a process when it wants to use the land for non-recreational purposes.”
The meeting will be held adjacent to the playground on the reserve, which is located on Phillips Ave.
The meeting is open to any resident in the Gawler area who wishes to be heard on this particular matter.