The proposed development will be on a site with frontage to Battye Road, where SA Water currently has a pumping station that provides utilities in the Encounter Bay area.

The communications mast will allow data transmission for the monitoring of data and remote operation of the pumping station to continue to occur through the central SA Water Information Centre in the Adelaide CBD.

Currently all data is transferred with the support of Telstra’s cable infrastructure, but Telstra has advised SA Water it will no longer provide this service.

Council said while the size and location of the proposed tower is at odds with many provisions in the Development Plan, it warrants support as long as measures are taken to reduce the visual impact of the development.

Council said SA Water needs to ensure the tower is finished in colours reflecting the natural environment to minimise the visual impact of the structure on the skyline when viewed from Victor Harbor.

City of Victor Harbor planning officers said in a report to council that consideration must be given to the logistical requirements of SA Water to continue to provide essential services to Victor Harbor without the support of Telstra’s cable infrastructure.

Councillors were happy to support the motion saying the 30-metre tower would not be too much of an eyesore in this situation, and that the facility needed to go ahead to serve the needs of the community.