MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have rejected a proposal for a 32.5-metre telecommunications tower in Fingal, declaring it would unacceptably and adversely impact the area’s amenity.
The decision was made at the council’s 16 December meeting, despite a recommendation from council officers to approve the facility at 36 Foam Rd in Fingal, close to the rear boundary of The Dunes Golf Links golf course.
The application attracted 38 objections which cited concerns of visual impacts, negative health impacts, poor proposed location, lack of a need for a facility, proximity to residents and the overall height.
The facility was to be co-funded by the federal and state governments under the Peri-Urban Mobile Program that targets long-standing mobile coverage and reception issues in bushfire priority areas on the peri-urban fringes of Australia’s major cities.
The applicant, TPG Telecom (Vodafone), said the tower was aimed at improving mobile network service to the St Andrews area including an upgrade to 4G and 5G services.
But Cr David Gill led a motion refusing the application, saying the height and visual prominence of the proposed tower would be incompatible with the surrounding landscape character and semi-rural qualities valued by the community.
The motion also stated the proposal would have a negatively impact on The Cups Estate winery.
“The proposal presents significant concerns in relation to landscape and visual amenity impacts inconsistent with the policy objectives of the green wedge zone and potential adverse effects on tourism values,” Gill said.
“I, for one, will vote for this if it’s the only site and if it’s the best site and the only available site. I want that coverage for fire safety and for other reasons, but I’m not convinced this time.”
Gill added said he had never objected to a telecom tower or the need to remove mobile black spots for safety reasons, but the current planning process was problematic.
“There is no mediation, there is no advertising, there is no right of appeal,” he said.
“We’re the ones protecting our community when it comes to what is the best thing for our community.”
Under changes made to the Victoria Planning Provisions in 2022 supporting telecommunications facilities, applications are exempt from public notice requirements and third-party appeal rights to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Councillors voted unanimously to refuse the application.
Council officers supporting the proposal said in a report that the proposed tower was “considered to meet the community’s needs, while protecting the amenity of the surrounding area as far as practicable through adequate setbacks and siting from nearby dwellings to minimise its visual impact”.
It also noted alternative greenfield locations had been explored but the site was considered optimal due to factors including telecommunications coverage, distance to sensitive coastal environments and tourist routes, and compliance with planning controls.
Deputy Mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro said he shared Gill’s concerns, noting he visited the site with mayor Anthony Marsh and Cr Cam Williams and a council officer.
“I don’t see how the practicality of this overshadows what is such a beautiful and untouched landscape,” he said.
Pingiaro suggested residents experiencing Vodafone coverage issues could instead use in-home cell-fi boosters, saying “It might be better for Vodafone to actually hand out cell-fi boosters for the people that want it”.
“There’s so many other options because we’re standing in this beautiful landscape and I can see two other phone towers that aren’t as intrusive,” he said.
First published in the Mornington News – 23 December 2025
