Consultants BMM Group have lodged a development application to erect the tower on a 2000 square metre site on Sofala Road, Wattle Flat.

The site stands next to the Wattle Flat Public School and is currently used as a Rural Fire Service depot.

The DA proposes construction of a 20-metre high monopole to support a satellite small cell transmitter/receiver that will be linked to existing phone networks to boost local coverage.

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A height restriction of nine metres within Bathurst region villages means council will have to approve a variation of its planning rules to allow the tower to go ahead, but a Statement of Environmental Effects (SoEE) lodged with the DA says 20 metres is the minimum height required.

"The proposed 20-metre high structure is the minimum height required in order to deliver on the coverage objectives of the black spot and address the community need," documents lodged with council state.

"The proposed facility is being considered for the purpose of providing mobile phone coverage to the community of Wattle Flat, as part of the Federal Government's Mobile Black Spot Program."

The proposed location ...

The SoEE says the Sofala Road site was selected following consideration of a number of factors, including "topography and other physical constraints such as trees and buildings, proximity to sensitive uses, the immediate network 'capacity' or number of calls expected to be made in the area, and the radio frequency at which the base station will operate".

It says the improved coverage will allow faster access to new technologies for key industry sectors including education, agriculture, transport, mining and tourism.

If the Telstra tower is approved, it will be made available for other telecommunications carriers to install their own equipment to better service local customers.