General News
15 May, 2026
The beauty of nature
WORK on the upgrade of a Telstra mobile tower upgrade at Mission Beach has been put on hold.
According to a Cassowary Coast Regional Council Facebook post, three osprey eggs have been discovered in a nest on the tower, so works will now begin in mid-July to give the chicks time to hatch and grow safely.
“Telstra would like to thank you for your understanding and patience because sometimes important projects have to wait for some even more important local residents,” the post said.
Mission Beach resident and member of Birdlife Australia Geoff Stapley, who took the page one picture as well as one of the images on this page, said there were three tall communication towers in the suburb.
“At present two of these have nesting ospreys. They nested last year as well, both pairs producing two fledglings each last year,” he said.
“The third tower has had a nesting platform put on it.
“This is having a nest built on it also by an osprey.
“So, any extra birds have an accommodation issue – no spare towers.
“The Nonda St tower has three eggs. Could be a big year again.”
Peter Gammie on Facebook said he heard the raptors nesting on radio towers helped keep the cockatoos and galahs from chewing things on the tower they shouldn’t.
Nicholas Hitz and Pato Pato suggested the council erect nesting platforms for the birds along the coast.
Michael Hallack said Telstra was a big corporation “caring about nature”. “Thank you Telstra for having a heart”.
Telstra was contacted for comment.
