The township, a notorious mobile phone blackspot, has been earmarked by Telstra as the next location to be upgraded as part of the federal government’s blackspot program.

Glenlyon residents had lodged a number of objections against the development, including concerns of visual impact, safety and electro-magnetic radiation health fears.

However on Tuesday night, Hepburn Shire Council voted unanimously to support the development, subject to a number of conditions including to protect nearby trees, prevent erosion during the building phase and ensure compliance with maximum radiation exposure standards.

Telstra confirmed construction would begin within the next month or two, with activation expected in the third quarter of 2016.

Resident Tom Perfect lives in the house closest to the site where the tower will be built. He said the “ugliness” of the tower would destroy Glenlyon’s beauty, which he said was its main economic driver.

“The ugliness of the mobile phone tower will make a mockery of this beauty...and demoralise the town,” Mr Perfect said.

Mr Perfect said businesses such as B&Bs and wineries would be affected, and “tree changers” would be dissuaded from moving to the town.

However, Holocombe ward councillor Bill McClenaghan said proper mobile phone coverage was essential in Glenlyon to keep its residents and visitors safe, especially during bushfires.

Cr McClenaghan also said that as the application met the conditions of the council’s planning scheme, could was obliged to approve it otherwise it would go to VCAT.

He said residents would come to barely notice the tower.

“It just becomes part of the landscape, you get used to it,” he said.

“You soak up the benefit of better mobile phone coverage and better safety for the community, and two years down the track you wonder what all the fuss was about.”

Councillor Sebastian Klein said council had a duty of care to ensure Glenlyon had proper coverage.