The mobile telecommunications industry is working with community representatives on a revised code for public consultation on the placement of mobile phone base stations in local communities.

The Chief Executive Officer, Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, Chris Althaus, said the industry supports councils and communities having greater participation in decisions when carriers deploy base stations and more time for them to comment on proposed new infrastructure.

“Our industry has participated in the Communications Alliance process, which has community representation, on revised code arrangements to help ensure that communities are properly consulted on the placement of mobile base stations in their local areas,” he said.

Earlier this week, the Greens Leader Bob Brown gave notice of motion in the Senate that he would introduce a Bill in the next sitting in September “to improve … public consultation” and “review…mobile phone towers, and other related matters”.

Mr Althaus said it is important for all stakeholders to allow the Communications Alliance code revision process, which is open to public comment, to run its course.

“Co-operation on a new Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Industry Code with community representation is well advanced and it would be counterproductive if this transparent and open process is politicised, resulting in sub-optimal outcomes that are in no-one’s interest – the community, the economy or the industry,” he said.

He said for 2010/11 it was expected that official figures would show fewer than 10 ACIF Code complaints out of nearly 4500 consultations conducted on sites.

Mr Althaus said industry statistics collected by the Mobile Carriers Forum, AMTA’s division that deals with social, environmental and regulatory issues related to deployment and operation of networks, showed that on average 89 stakeholders were notified for new low-impact telecommunications sites as part of the process set out in the Deployment Code.

This was five times more than the average council development approval process.

“Our members – Telstra, Optus and Vodafone Hutchison Australia – strive to meet local community expectations regarding the deployment of mobile phone base stations and balance these expectations against the wider needs of the 26 million mobile phone subscribers in Australia,” Mr Althaus said.