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HIGH profile political independent Andrew Wilkie has weighed into the Buninyong NBN battle, saying he would not live next to a communications tower.“I have two young children...while I’m unsure what the health impact would be I would default to a precautionary principle,” Mr Wilkie told The Courier.The Member for Denison called communications towers “unsightly scars” on sensitive or historic landscapes.“It has become clear at any one time there are dozens of communities around Australia fighting this battle and (telecommunication companies) are picking them off one by one,” he said.“Most of us want wireless but not at any cost.”Residents at Buninyong have vowed to fight a planning permit application for a 40 metre communications tower beside Macs Road.Mr Wilkie said he maintained his support for the NBN but big communications companies were “riding roughshod” over local communities.“It shouldn’t take public rallies and mobilising politicians to stick up for a fundamental community right,” he said.“I don’t care if they are NBN towers or not, this thing needs to be sorted.”Mr Wilkie said he had concerns about public health but deliberately excluded it from a private member’s bill to give it a better chance of success.He said the bill would give greater community say over the placement of communications towers.It includes stronger avenues for appeal, 500 metre setbacks and more time for communities to have an input to local government on tower applications.Mr Wilkie admitted the bill would have a direct impact on the NBN roll-out if passed.Hepburn Shire Council has confirmed at least two applications for NBN tower planning permits - at Smeaton and Newlyn.Moorabool Council has three applications – at Gordon, Clarendon and Yendon.Gordon resident said Ann Henke said community opposition to the proposed tower in Nightingale St was strong.“I can’t believe how big the tower would be,” Ms Nightingale said. “I’m opposing it from a health point of view and it will desperately interfere with the lovely view.“My big objection is weren’t we promised underground cable – why are we being short changed?”Ballarat-based Senator John Madigan said he had yet to see Mr Wilkie’s bill but called for telecommunications companies to be put under more scrutiny.“I believe these people should be held to account,” he said.“There should be proper independent Australian medical research by eminent independent people into the dangers of living close to communications towers.”

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