ASouth East council has refused a request from Telstra to make a $140,000 cash contribution towards the $2.8m cost of erecting new mobile phone towers at Reedy Creek, Coles and Stewart Range.

The released minutes of a confidential portion of the May 23 meeting of Naracoorte Lucindale Council show the decision was made by a tight margin.

The motion to support the Telstra request attracted four votes while it was opposed by the other six councillors present at the meeting.

Telstra is currently lobbying the six other councils in the SE region and has sought a 5% contribution for the mobile phone towers.

The balance of the cost would come from the Federal Government (50%), State Government (20%) and Telstra (25%).

In his report to Naracoorte Lucindale Council, chief executive Trevor Smart (pictured) said the Reedy Creek, Coles and Stewart Range towers would provide mobile phone coverage across an additional 64 sq km and 230 dwellings.

“Telstra approached the Limestone Coast Local Government Association last December to present a proposed project to create improved mobile phone coverage across the Limestone Coast, based on a co-funded model involving all levels of government, including local government,” Mr Smart said.

“Overall, this is a positive step by Telstra to look at regional connectivity rather than single blackspot approaches, but still raises the question of what is local government’s role in telecommunications improvements.

“There are many benefits to improved coverage across social, economic, emergency services comms, road safety, etc.”

Discussion and voting on this matter took 20 minutes.

Speaking outside the meeting, Mayor Patrick Ross said council felt that funding of telecommunications equipment was not the responsibility of council.