NBN Co this week advised residents they were likely to miss out on wireless internet because Golden Plains Shire Council had rejected a development application for a tower.

Golden Plains mayor Geraldine Frantz said the decision, the first of its kind in Australia, would worry other councils around the country.

“It is obvious that this is a test case of national significance,” she said.

“I am deeply concerned by NBN Co’s threat to walk away from delivering the government’s plans to roll out fixed wireless broadband infrastructure at Napoleons and the precedent this sets for communities and councils across Australia.”

The Golden Plains council has approved six NBN Co towers and rejected one. One application is still pending.

NBN Co said it had been talking to the council about the rejected tower since September. The council had suggested three alternative sites, but two of those were not technologically feasible. A third location was on private land, the owner of which had not given permission to build.

The company is due to meet with Golden Plains council early next week.

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