Yaccaba Drive residents Kristen Elliot and Kylie Lipp have properties within 1km of the site for a $200,000 Optus tower at the Moruya Water Reservoir.

They are concerned about possible health risks associated with mobile phone towers, and the fact no further permits would be required for antennas or satellite dishes to be attached to the proposed tower.

However Peter Knight, whose property is adjacent to the site, was not against the tower nor concerned about potential health risks.

The application has been approved, despite not having been on a council meeting agenda for councillors to consider.

Kristen said she was not opposed to a mobile phone tower being built, but she would like the location changed.

She said she only became aware of the proposal after her mother, Pat Elliot, spotted an advertisement in the Moruya Examiner on September 25.

Pat said, after reading the notice, she spotted a story about Iluka’s only doctor looking at moving away from the seaside town after Optus proposed a phone tower near his business and home.

She said it concerned her that a doctor was considering moving towns due to a proposed phone tower.

Kristen put in a submission against the mobile phone tower and a petition containing 50 signatures.

She said she was concerned for the people who could move to the area in coming years, due to the Brae residential development plan for 46 hectares south of Spencer Street.

Council’s development and natural resources manager Lindsay Usher said applications were determined on merit and in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

He said all objector concerns were considered in the assessment process with reference to the relevant legislative requirements.

According to a report published in August, Australian standards do not protect against the long-term and continuous levels of radiation people are exposed to from mobile phone antennas.

The report, The Impacts of Radiofrequency Radiation from Mobile Phone Antennas by Lyn McLean, states there was evidence, both scientific and anecdotal, that this radiation exposure resulted in negative impacts on people. Some individuals were more sensitive to this radiation than others.

Pat said she had since contacted Eurobodalla Mayor Fergus Thomson about the matter.

Kristen said she had written to council’s general manager Paul Anderson and faxed Bega MP Andrew Constance.