Woombye telco tower dispute heads to court-ordered mediation

The controversial location of the telecommunications tower proposed for Woombye will face court-ordered mediation this month, following years of community opposition led by the Woombye Community & Business Association (WCBA).

WCBA President Milo Frawley updated members at last month’s meeting that mediation between Sunshine Coast Council and Wavecom Operations Pty Ltd was scheduled for November 18 in Brisbane.  The two-hour session represents the next step in the Planning and Environment Court process after an initial hearing on October 20. Following mediation, the case will appear back in court on December 11. 

Mr Frawley thanked several councillors for their “stand-up verbal support” during a 30-minute council session discussing the tower’s location. “They appreciated the fact that for us it was about location,” Mr Frawley said, emphasising the community’s position wasn’t anti-technology but concerned inappropriate placement.

The dispute could drag on for two to three years through the court system, with Mr Frawley representing the community as a private correspondent rather than exposing the WCBA to litigation risks.

Festival Planning Underway

• In other business, planning has begun for the 2026 Woombye Festival scheduled for May 3, 2026, with funds equivalent to last year’s budget already secured. The festival committee is prioritising logo and branding development to establish consistent marketing materials after a re-brand from its previous name, Woombye Happy Days Festival.

• The WCBA is organising Clean Up Australia