The council considered the application for the $200,000 facility at Zenith Court at its meeting on December 11.

The public gallery was packed with Blackstone Heights residents against the proposal. 

Many lived close to the site proponents, Telstra and Visionstream, aimed to use.

Blackstone Heights was identified in the federal government’s Mobile Black Spot funding program, which aims to provide better mobile coverage to regional and remote communities around Australia.

The proposed site for the facility was pegged out in August, just metres away from homes and backyards.

Many members of the community made a representation to council about the application, with all 357 objecting to the development.

Councillor Andrew Connor urged his fellow councillors to “vote with their heads and not their hearts”, as the council was acting as a planning authority.

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Councillor Susie Bower said the people living in the area who were expected to benefit from the facility, did not want it built.

Deputy mayor Michael Kelly said he had a range of issues with the development, such as there being many rural areas in the state that would benefit more from the facility.

“I can’t see me supporting it,” he said.

Cr Connor said if the council did not pass the application the proponents had the right to appeal the decision, which could cost thousands of dollars.

“I believe there’s significant community benefit,” he said.

The application was denied, with most councillors voting against the proposal.

The proposal was not passed as the council believed the facility would not be consistent with the character of the area, the tower would be too prominent, the height of the tower did not provide the ability to establish screening, and the facility would not provide significant community benefit.