Nelson group protests against cell phone tower | NATIONAL | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz

Nelson group protests cell phone tower

Jul 23, 2008 10:34 AM

The Government is playing down the health risks associated with living near a cellphone tower.

A Nelson group is taking its message to Parliament on Wednesday, that it doesn’t want a cellphone tower built in its neighbourhood.

They are concerned at the potential for harm if Telecom goes ahead with it plan to erect a tower next to a play centre.

Associate Health Minister Damien O’Connor doesn’t share the concerns that living near a tower can harm residents health.

He says the evidence isn’t conclusive.

O’Connor is also confident companies provide enough consultation for residents when there is a proposal for the construction of a cellphone tower.

Meanwhile, Green MP Sue Kedgley is supporting the group, citing concerns about the health risks associated with the towers.

She says there are significant concerns about the health risks associated with long-term exposure to radio frequency fields, especially for children.

Kedgley says given the risks, there needs to be a precautionary approach that prohibits the locations of cellphone towers near schools and pre-schools.

Cell tower erected without notice - Manukau Courier news on Stuff.co.nz

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Cell tower erected without notice

TOWERING DISPUTE: Hunters Corner resident Debbie Allen and neighbours are angry Telecom
was allowed to build this cellphone tower without their knowledge.

BEN CAMPBELL/Manukau Courier

The 23-metre Telecom tower was given a resource consent in May last year without public notification.

The first neighbours knew was when building started recently in the carpark behind 283 Great South Rd.

Homeowner Debbie Allen says there was no warning from council or Telecom.

"We’re in shock."

With children still at home she’s unhappy about the health risks of having a tower "right over my back fence".

Although the tower’s in a carpark behind a commercial building, it backs right on to "many, many homes".

"It’s cut the value of our land in half and put everybody in danger."

Commercial property owner Steve McHugh says the tower’s approval was "underhand".

"The first thing we knew about it was a big hole being dug in the ground."

He is worried about the health implications for his tenants and their employees.

"Telecom has a dossier on how it won’t affect property values and how it’s safe but I can’t help thinking it’s propaganda.

"There’s lots of literature saying these towers don’t cause problems with radiation but it’s not conclusive."

He says neighbours are going to have trouble renting or selling because no buyer will want to be so close to a tower.

"Why would anyone want to work or live under that?"

Council staff told him that because there’s no proof the tower is hazardous no one would be adversely affected so there was no need to consult neighbours.

"What a load of rubbish. They didn’t want protests so they chose to push it through."

The non-notified consent has also upset the Papatoetoe Community Board.

Chairman Stephen Grey says the board now wants to be told of any cellphone tower application before any decision by council staff.

"Since these towers are a contentious issue the council should err on the side of caution to make sure processes are open and there’s consultation."

Mr Grey says his personal view is that all cellphone tower applications should be publicly notified.

Council resource consents leader Brett O’Shaughnessy says the public wasn’t notified because no one other than the site’s landowner was considered likely to be adversely affected.

It met all the relevant standards for noise, radio frequency radiation, design, appearance and potential adverse impact on adjacent properties, he says.

But Todd Pearce, whose caryard is next door to the "seriously ugly" cellphone tower, says the council’s being "hypocritical".

To build or demolish anything on his own property he had to "inform the whole world".

"But when it comes to something like this when the public really is at risk and deserves to be informed, it’s carte blanche."

"It’s infuriating especially when the council has a big park across the road and a massive carpark empty most of the time. It could have put it there."

But he and Mr McHugh have abandoned plans to challenge the resource consent on legal advice that it would be costly and a "futile waste of time".

Pearce Brothers salesman Lance Mackay isn’t convinced cellphone towers are harmful.

"Unless I get a third arm growing out of my back, I’m not fazed about it."

But colleague Jade Karaitiana disagrees.

"If they’re warning you about using the cellphone too much, I’d hate to see what that pumps out."

Telecom spokeswoman Helen Isbister says the site was chosen because it provides the best cellphone coverage and the landowner was willing to lease it out.

3 News > National > Regions > Nelson > Story > Ban the Tower group goes to Parliament

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Ban the Tower group goes to Parliament

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:37p.m.

A group opposed to a cell-phone tower being built next to the Atawhai play centre is taking its case to Parliament this afternoon.

The Ban the Tower group is presenting a three-thousand signature petition and a community-made video for the Prime Minister.

Earlier this year the group took on Telecom, which has delayed building the tower until next year and is now investigating alternative sites.

The company wants to build the towers for a new mobile broadband network.

Cellphone tower may force playcentre to close - 23-Jul-2008 - NZ Education news

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A Nelson playcentre fears it will be forced to close if a 22-metre Telecom cellphone tower is built next door

23 July 2008
Staff at a Nelson playcentre fear they may be forced to shut down if a cellphone tower is erected next door.

Telecom plans to put up the 22 metre tower next the the Atawhai Playcentre, which 70 children attend.

Locals are urging the Government to put stricter rules in place because of potential health risks associated with the towers.

Playcentre vice-president Heather Arnold fears they will have to close down if the proposal goes ahead. She says people have a choice where to send their children, and she wonders why a parent would send their kids to a playcentre with a tower next door.

A 3,000 strong petition has been presented to Prime Minister Helen Clark calling for more research into the effects of living near a cellphone tower.

Residents angry with cell phone tower talk

ARE new cell phone wars beginning?

TOWER OF DARKNESS: Greg and Geraldine Kasper of Page Point Rd, with neighbours Amelia, Toby and Jack Elliott. They oppose a new cell phone transmitter, which would replace the 6m lamppost behind them with a 10m tower. Times photo.

About 35 of the 42 residents on or near Page Point Rd replied with strong opposition after local homeowner Greg Kasper circulated the news of a proposed tower by new cell phone company NZ Communications Ltd (NZCL).

While the residents were in the midst of organising opposition to the NZCL tower, a Vodafone vehicle turned up last week to investigate the potential of constructing a Vodafone tower at the top of the street. It’s barely 20m from the other proposed site.

Mr Kasper and wife Geraldine live at No 1. The 10m NZCL tower would be sited in front of house No 3, replacing the existing 6m lamppost. It’s part of NZCL’s plans to bring a third cell phone network into play to compete alongside Vodafone and Telecom.

An NZCL letter notifying Michael Spencer, owner of No 3, was dated June 12 but not sent out until July 5, negating a two week period the company allowed Mr Spencer to respond.

The proposal is being considered by Manukau City Council as a ?discretionary restricted activity’.

A decision is imminent on whether the proposal should be notified or non-notified to residents.

The ultimate decision to grant or refuse resource consent lies with the council.

The Kasper family and other residents are aggrieved at the planned tower. They say it would destroy the local view shaft out to the harbour enjoyed by residents and pedestrians.

Mr Kasper says residents are also not convinced that the tower would be safe for people’s health.

?We object to the clandestine nature of the whole thing,? says Mr Kasper.

Mrs Kasper calls the proposed locations ?quite inappropriate? and wonders what the future holds with the new networks.

?Are they just going to be popping them up everywhere??

Howick’s status as a heritage zone has also entered the debate. Mr Kasper says the council’s district plan is no good if residents can’t appeal to the council to stop such a tower.

?No one is in favour of it. It’s a visual eyesore, a potential health hazard and it will devalue properties.

?We’re making a plea for commonsense and giving [council] a strong message.?

Howick city councillor Sharon Stewart believes the situation shows the need for strengthening heritage protections for residents. She says there ?must be other places for the tower?.

?Do we really need more networks?

?Towers have gone up in Mangere and Papatoetoe and they’re not a pretty sight.?

Mrs Stewart is also concerned at potential health risks, despite denials by the telecommunications industry that there are any dangers.

Brett O’Shaughnessy, the council’s acting manager of resource consent and compliance, says according to telecommunications standards the council considers the tower safe for residents’ health.

He acknowledges the level of resident concerns and says primary factors to be looked at include the ?landscape effects’, but not property values, which are classified as a secondary effect.

He also understands NZCL is looking at other sites, ?but that’s no guarantee they’ll choose another one?.

Mr O’Shaughnessy says there are two other proposals for Vodafone and NZCL cell phone towers in Sommerville Rd and Macleans Rd respectively, which are also opposed by local residents.

Several attempts by the Times to contact NZCL were unsuccessful.

Cellphone Towers-Health Risk | Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
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Cellphone Towers?Health Risk

11. SUE KEDGLEY (Green) to the Minister of Health: Is he confident that a cellphone tower, built next to a playcentre or kindergarten, would pose no risk to the health of the children who spend time at that centre; if so, why?

Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR (Associate Minister of Health) on behalf of the Minister of Health: Yes; I am advised that there is a current scientific consensus that exposure to cellphone towers would not constitute any quantifiable risk from radio frequency fields.

Sue Kedgley: Is it not actually the case that he cannot be confident, because there are, in fact, significant concerns about the health risks of long-term exposure to radio frequency fields, especially for children and including serious clusters of health effects for people living near cellphone towers, and, given this uncertainty, why will he not recommend a precautionary approach that does not compromise the safety of our children and prohibit the location of telecommunications towers near schools and preschools?

Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR: The evidence is not conclusive at all. I am not a scientist, but the Ministry of Health monitors all the research and convenes an expert advisory group to comment on findings of any research and on whether the ministry’s policies need to be reviewed. We are doing everything that we need to in this area, and we take on board any new evidence as it comes to us.

Lesley Soper: Has the Minister received any reports on exposure levels from New Zealand cell sites?

Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR: Yes. The Ministry of Health’s measurements show that radio frequency fields from cell sites are normally one-hundredth of the limit recommended in the standard. The limits and the standard are consistent with international best practice and are at least 50 times lower than the level at which health effects might occur.

Sue Kedgley: Is it not the case that our standard is hundreds of times higher than many countries, including China, Austria, and Switzerland; is it not also the case that any New Zealander could wake up and discover that a 22-metre telecommunications tower had been erected next door, overnight, and that ordinary New Zealanders have absolutely no say or any rights to object to a structure being built next to their homes or their preschools; and what will the Government’s response be tomorrow to a group of Nelson parents who are bringing to the Prime Minister their video message entitled ?Dear Helen Clark?, in which they express their concerns about their children’s safety in the light of a proposal by Telecom to build a telecommunications tower next to two preschools in Nelson?

Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR: I am aware of the Nelson situation. I think that the tower is next to one preschool. I understand that Telecom has decided not to proceed with that in the short term. Telecom is talking with people. There is normally, through the Resource Management Act, an extensive process of local consultation. There are many views on these proposals. Although there are other standards in other countries, we are using the best independent international advice in this area, and I am aware that although the other countries have slightly different standards, it, in fact, makes no practical difference in any way to the way cell sites operate or to the potential health effects of any exposure.

Sue Kedgley: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I am just wondering whether the Minister would like to think about his answer, because he made a very inaccurate statement. He said that normally extensive consultation takes place in erecting these 22-metre cellphone towers, when in fact there is no requirement for any consultation whatsoever, so I think the Minister?

Madam SPEAKER: I think the Minister did address the question.

Sue Kedgley: I seek leave to table details of two examples of 22-metre cellphone towers.

Leave granted.

The Nelson Mail - The Nelson Mail

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Nelson | Friday, 25 July 2008

No guarantee PM will view protest DVD

Prime Minister Helen Clark has given no guarantee that she’ll personally watch a short video made for her by a Nelson group trying to have cellphone towers banned near schools and homes.

In Nelson on Thursday, she said the video would, however, be referred to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Environment so she could get guidance on whether action needed to be taken.

"We act on the best advice available about what regulation there should be about these things," she said.

Ban the Tower group, which stopped Telecom putting a cellphone tower next to Nelson’s Atawhai Playcentre, presented its 3101-signature petition and its eight-minute video message "Dear Helen Clark" to Parliament on Wednesday.

It was played before MPs Nick Smith, Sue Kedgley and Maryan Street.

The group is concerned the cellphone towers have health dangers and wants them banned within 1000m of schools and homes.

Miss Clark said on Thursday she had not seen the group’s video, although some of its members were on the same flight as her to Nelson on Wednesday and handed her a copy of the DVD.

She said concern about cellphone towers was a "perennial" issue, and if there was a proven public safety issue "obviously you act, but you only act on the basis of information, it’s got to be factual".

Ban the Tower spokeswoman Sue Grey said she hoped, despite the prime minister’s comments, that she would still find the time to watch the short DVD.

"I just wonder what she could possibly have to do that is more important than listening to serious concerns about a community which has gone to a lot of trouble."

Miss Grey said the DVD could be viewed on the YouTube website by searching for "Dear Helen Clark".

Scoop: Dear Helen, please listen to the parents - Greens

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The group that stopped Telecom putting a cellphone tower next to Nelson’s Atawhai Playcentre hopes to present the prime minister with a video letter asking her to ban phone masts near schools and homes.

Ban the Tower spokeswoman Sue Grey said the group would present the video and a 3000-signature petition at Parliament Wednesday afternoon.
Miss Grey said the 10-minute video featured 20 people, including children, asking the prime minister if she knew about the health dangers of the towers.
It had been put together and paid for by volunteers over a two-month period, she said. The message was simple but hard-hitting.
The group has asked to meet the prime minister personally, but does not know if this will happen.
However, Miss Grey said it had received great support from Nelson MP and National politician Nick Smith, Labour candidate for Nelson Maryan Street, and Green MP Sue Kedgley.
Ban the Tower fought Telecom earlier this year, successfully getting the corporate giant to agree to postpone erecting a tower next to the playcentre until late 2009.
The campaign became national after it was discovered that the Atawhai tower was one of 10 Telecom was proposing for Nelson.
Miss Grey said that since the group raised awareness of the issue, it had been contacted by people from throughout the country who were concerned about the towers proposed to go up nationwide as Telecom and Vodafone roll out their new 3G technology.
Miss Grey, a lawyer, said she had done a lot of research about the dangers of the towers and cellphones in general.
She had been getting up at 4am to do research before work, and studied the issue further when she got home.
"It’s an incredibly serious worldwide issue, and we just want to get the message across in the clearest possible way."
She said it had been a "great buzz" being involved in the campaign.
"We are so lucky that we’ve got such a great community in Nelson, that’s got the skills, the commitment, and is brave enough to come together."

Dear members of the community,

Yesterday, the 7th July 2008, we met with Telecom to look at possible options for the Atawhai mobile phone site away from Atawhai Play centre and Atawhai Brightsparks. The group is hopeful that an alternate site which minimises impact on the community will be found. There will be another meeting in a month time with Telecom representatives including a Telecom engineer to look at further options. In the meantime, we are ready to present the petition to the parliament . Thanks to all 3100 people that signed the petition.
Please visit the site often for further information.