In 2017 Blackstone Heights was included in the federal government’s third round of the Mobile Black Spot Program. 

The $220 million program aims to increase mobile phone coverage to regional areas across Australia. 

At the Blackstone Community News group’s annual general meeting in July, residents were told the tower’s location was yet to be determined, but Zenith Court had been flagged as a possible spot.

The proposed location was pegged out in August, with the site only metres from homes and backyards. Telstra has contracted Visionstream to construct the tower in Blackstone Heights.

Resident Melissa Page has been trying to communicate with Telstra since July 12 and Visionstream since August 3 about the phone tower, on behalf of a group of concerned residents. 

Many emails expressing community concern about the tower’s location have been sent by Ms Page to Telstra’s community engagement specialist for Tasmania Sarah Ebbelaar. 

Ms Page was told Telstra was “contractually unable to assist” and she would need to liaise with Visionstream.  

A Telstra spokeswoman said community consultation would be undertaken before a final decision on the tower’s location was made. 

The spokeswoman was unable to confirm when the consultation would occur by The Examiner’s deadline. 

In an email to Ms Page on August 16, Visionstream senior town planner Clinton Northey confirmed a Taswater site on Zenith Court had been identified for the tower. 

Ms Page asked Mr Northey whether there’d be any community consultation so residents could voice concerns and ask questions, but she never received a reply. 

The Telstra spokeswoman said it was difficult to achieve a location that suited everybody and met community expectations and planning requirements.

Visionstream was contacted for comment.