People power defeats tower

But while buoyed by the victory they fear the fight may have just begun.

At least 70 objections were lodged with Wodonga Council over plans to put a 25-metre monopole on the peak of the ridge that separates Willow Rise from Cambourne Park, off Yarralumla Drive.

They argued against the proposal because of health risks, visual impact and the potential for other mobile service providers to piggy-back on the site.

Late last week the residents who rallied against the tower were advised that Telstra had withdrawn its planning application.

Marg Leddin said it was a win for community action.

“My heart dropped when we first were told of the tower,” she said.

“So many people use this parkland, it would have been a scar of the landscape, visible to people from miles around.

“The parkland is not extensive and is surrounded by residential development on all sides, it cannot expand further.

“It is a precious and irreplaceable community asset.

“This plan affected more than 100 families and part of their anger was that we all thought this was public parkland and off limits to commercial development.”

But Ms Leddin says they will remain vigilant to the threat of future development.

“This campaign was also about protecting a community asset from commercial development,” she said.

“Telstra has not provided any reason for the withdrawal of their planning permit application.

“In five years’ time there is every chance they will try again.

“We need to look into the zoning ... to make sure that it excludes commercial development.”