The tower, which if approved will be the Ballarat region’s NBN transmission hub, will include a 30-metre pole, a parabolic dish antenna, three panel antennas and an equipment shelter at ground level plus a protective fence.

However, residents, including Judy Tierney, say the tower’s proposed location had been advertised as Lot 2, Remembrance Drive, Windermere.

But the plans show it to be located on Madden Road.

“I only got to know the tower would be across the road from my house when I went to the information session,” Ms Tierney said.

Residents say a City of Ballarat letter drop about an information session missed many of the houses affected by the tower. Peter Brown, who lives behind Madden Road on Lyttle Crescent, said the tower was more visible from his house yet he didn’t get told about the meeting held to inform residents.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realise up higher the view is greater,” Mr Brown said.

City of Ballarat Growth and Development director Eric Braslis said inquiries relating to information provided to the community on the meeting should be directed to NBN Co.

“NBN Co held an information session on the planning application lodged with the City of Ballarat for a telecommunications tower at Windermere,” Mr Braslis said. “As part of our statutory obligations, and in line with normal procedures, council notified residents adjacent and opposite to the proposed site of the tower. Council also placed two signs on the site and advertised the application in the newspaper.”

Mr Braslis said council would meet with residents who lodge objections in due course as part of the process and prior to any decision being made by council on the planning application.

NBN Co, GM Communications Andrew Sholl, said they were surprised to hear that that this group of residents felt they were misled about the location.

“Last week we conducted two lengthy community sessions for residents in the Ballarat area,” Mr Sholl said. “Both sessions, each of which lasted around two hours, were well-attended with around 30 attendees in total, with NBN experts on hand to answer all queries. These sessions were also well-advertised – including in The Courier itself – and a notification was sent directly to around 40 households around the proposed location.”