Optus wants to build a 30m-high telecommunications tower in the village to improve mobile phone reception.

The proposal went before Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s Development Assessment Panel last week.

The panel recommended the project be granted conditional consent when it came before a full council meeting for a decision.

PC Pitstop owner Ben Waters deals with the problem every day.

“My staff and I deal with thousands of customers a year distressed with the state of connectivity in the area,” Mr Waters said.

He has seen long-term customers repeatedly return in search of answers to improve mobile and wireless reception and new customers were flabbergasted at the lack of reception.

“I have seen many people who make their living working from home tearing their hair out over how tedious business and communications becomes when even standard quality reception is just not available,” Mr Waters said.

PC Pitstop has tried various solutions, such as antennas and faster modems, for customers and the business.

“The erection of this tower will be an asset to this growing community,” Mr Waters said.

The tower is earmarked to be built at Lake Cathie Shopping Centre on land between an existing building and a large vegetated block.

Mr Waters said better connectivity would result in happier and safer residents, happier holidaymakers, better business and, most importantly, Lake Cathie would feel like a modern community with a voice.

Lake Cathie Progress Association also supports the Optus tower proposal.

More than 70 per cent of respondents to a progress association survey last year recorded a zero to poor signal.

Lake Cathie Progress Association secretary Jack Jones said most residents needed to go out on the street to make or take mobile calls.

Mr Jones said it was almost impossible to operate a small business from home and a number of householders were still using dial-up internet and desperately wanted a wireless connection.