AN OUTPOURING of community anger has failed to prevent the approval of two 40-metre broadband towers at Yenda.
The National Broadband Network (NBN) towers were given the green light to be built on Whitton and Twigg roads last week.
A third tower will be installed on Oakes Road in Griffith.
Yenda residents vigorously opposed the developments in their village amid concerns there had not been enough research on the health effects of living near transmission towers.
They called for the towers to be placed further away from schools.
But NBN representative Stephen O'Brien explained each tower's emissions were 6000 per cent less than the standard for safe contact.
"There's a reason we have proposed two towers for Yenda we could have got away with one, but it would have been smack bang in the middle of town, in a residential area," Mr O'Brien said.
"We looked for areas with vertical structures, like silos, so we could work with the amenity of the area and landowners we could enter into commercial terms with.
"The towers need to talk to one another, so they need a clear line of sight."
Once the towers are installed, residents will be given access to the NBN's fixed wireless network.
The Griffith structure will host five parabolic dishes and service almost 4000 homes.
More towers will be proposed as part of the company's master plan for the area, including two for Hanwood.
While councillors had a number of questions about the towers at last Tuesday's meeting, Councillor Mike Neville was the only one to vote against the development.
"In the past, we have encouraged the NBN and others to work with the community and council in an open and transparent way," Cr Neville said.
"I don't believe putting the proposal out just before Christmas and having a meeting with a select group of people is enough for that transparency.
"On top of that, they are doing the project bit-by-bit. I would rather see the master plan before we get to a point where we're voting for or against individual towers."
The remaining councillors, except absentees Anne Napoli and Dino Zappacosta, were convinced the benefits of the towers outweighed the risks.
"When you look at the data in regards to EME (electromagnetic emissions) and health risks, if what (Mr O'Brien) told us is correct, they are way below what is considered to be dangerous and I am prepared to accept that," Cr Pat Cox said.