BALLARAT EAST: Lack of phone service prompts calls for tower

BALLARAT EAST businessman Martin Adriaans is supporting plans for a new Optus tower at Mt Clear.At his Fussell St home, he struggles with service and says a new phone tower would improve his situation."I have to go outside to make a phone call," Mr Adriaans said.His reception varies, but he said in certain areas including at Mt Clear and Mt Helen, his service often dropped out."I've actually bought two different sorts of external aerials to boost the signals inside the house, but they've failed miserably," he said.The proposed 43.2m mobile phone tower, in Tinworth Ave, is mooted to go on crown land next to a Central Highlands Water holding tank.There has been significant opposition in the community to the proposal, with opposers concerned about irradiation and the look of the tower. Mr Adriaans runs a storage facility business and said his mobile number was with Optus and was used for after hours inquiries."If (customers) don't get you the first time, they go somewhere else, so it's affecting our business," he said."I can understand the people who don't want the tower there, but it's important to us to have it."