Optus withdraws plans for phone tower in Dutton Park after community backlash

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Plans for a phone tower near St Ita’s Catholic School at Dutton Park have been scrapped. Source: Herald Sun: June 14, 2012

GRASSROOTS opposition has quashed plans by telecom giant Optus to build a phone tower just metres from a primary school in Dutton Park.

Protests spearheaded by St Ita’s Catholic School parents and friends committee and local residents, aided by association with Brisbane lobby group No Towers Near Schools, heard late last week that Optus had binned the plan in the wake of the outcry.
The tower was to be erected atop a block of social housing units.
St Ita’s principal Maureen Thomas said it was a huge relief.
“I think they thought that this would be a project they could go ahead with without the response that it got,” she said.
“I don’t think they were expecting such an immediate and strong response. It took them unawares.
“We feel relieved but we also believe that we need to be vigilant. It might not be the end because they do want to put a tower in the area.”
Optus said it withdrew the plan after it “identified deficiencies with the consultation and we now intend to withdraw from the notified consultation process.”
Councillor Helen Abrahams (Gabba) attributed the victory to a strong community.
“I’m sure one of the reasons for the withdrawal was the level of determination and action,” she said.

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