Telecommunications infrastructure and the urban landscape

Abstract

Telecommunications forms a part of every aspect of our lives. This paper looks at mobile telecommunications infrastructure (TI) and how it impacts visually on the urban landscape from a planning perspective. First, the impact of low-impact and non low-impact TI on the build environment. This includes examples of differences types of TI. Also, current trends in Western Australia in terms of the planning approval process, and specifically, the accumulative effect of low-impact TI on the streetscape. Second, ways in which local and state governments can more proactively and effectively deal with TI by enabling site specific design outcomes that reduce the visual clutter of TI on the skyline. In addition, how do we deal with existing TI that may be considered urban blight? How do we encourage carriers to remove and/or redesign these existing TI? How can existing legislation be improved to enable best practice in the deployment of TI?

Keywords:

• visual impact
• skyline clutter
• accumulative effect
• innovation
• best practice

Notes

1. This legislation provided local government with control to limit the number of non low-impact TI towers being erected. It however, did not give control of low-impact TI installations to local governments (Australasian Legal Information Institute 1997).