Playcentre could move to avoid tower - Local News - The Nelson Mail (via Google)

Playcentre could move to avoid tower

By TRACY NEAL - Nelson | Monday, 23 February 2009

The Atawhai Playcentre would consider moving as a last resort, rather than existing next to a cellphone tower proposed for a site next to it, playcentre president Sarah Allen says.

The controversial tower proposal, which was partly behind Telecom putting its plans to build new towers in Nelson on hold last year, is now back on the agenda, city councillors heard recently.

A public outcry resulted in the formation of a Nelson lobby group, which gathered signatures for a petition opposing the building of cellphone towers near educational facilities anywhere in the country. The petition was presented to Parliament.

Telecom decided to delay building a tower at Atawhai, to give the company more time to find an alternative site.

Nelson City Council environment committee chairwoman Rachel Reese, Nelson Mayor Kerry Marshall and councillor Ali Boswijk recently met with the playcentre to advise its members that the neighbouring site was still the preferred location for an Atawhai tower.

Telecom spokesman Ian Bonnar said last week the company was continuing to work with community representatives to try to find a solution that met everyone’s needs, and no decision had been made on a site.

Ms Reese said discussions, which were continuing with all parties, included the possibility of relocating the playcentre.

Ms Boswijk said the playcentre group had been asked for their thoughts on the idea, and had responded that they would consider all options.

Mrs Allen said shifting was an idea that had been tabled, but was something that would need serious consideration.

"If the tower went up right next door, it would have to be an option for us, but it’s not something we would leap at."
She understood that a tower would be shared with other networks, and was to be built before the end of this financial year.

Telecom confirmed last year that nine new structures were planned for Nelson and Richmond, as the company seeks to develop a new mobile phone network.

The new mobile broadband technology was to be launched in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and rolled out progressively to other regions.

Mr Bonnar said last year there was no other area in the country that had been so "vociferous" in its opposition to the scheme.

• Andrew Goldsworthy is mentioned in a letter to the NZ Herald

• In the next article on this site B Trower writes ??they recommend a level of radiation 10million times below the ICNIRP level?? which clashes with the information in a report filed at the Waiheke Community Board meeting in Aug 08 where the author calculated the output of the Vodafone installation will be ??1/1,250,000^th of the level at which a problem can reasonably be expected??

• This site reports on the Radiation Research Trust conference. Sir William Stewart was one of the speakers and it is interesting to see how greatly his view has developed since the much quoted Stewart Report (2000).

Residents sign petition opposing antenna

TELECOM GUARANTEE











Signed .........................................



Printed Name ...............................



Date...............................................




Witnesses




Signed............................................



Printed name..................................




Signed............................................



Printed name..................................




Signed............................................



Printed name..................................

• President Obama sets up a cancer panel to investigate link between electromagnetic radiation and cancer, panel is seeking input from people worldwide

• Nothing Bad
  

• Nothing Ugly

Hi there,

I saw the 'letter to helen' video on youtube, and thought i'd get in touch. I have made a song and video raising issues surrounding the dangers of cellphones. I believe this is a topic which mainstream media is pushing under the rug and needs to be brought out into the open for debate amongst our young people; the main audience the song is aimed at. see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WJCKgknZoE.

The song comes on the heals of another health awareness song I made last year about the dangers of Aspartame - the artificial sweetener. now 22000 people have seen it. interestingly, both cellphones and aspartame are known to cause brain tumors in lab rats (and humans). anyway, hope you like it, and share it round... cheers, Jody

Residents sign petition opposing antenna - Eastern Courier news on Stuff.co.nz

By NICOLA WILLIAMS - Eastern Courier | Wednesday, 11 February 2009

Residents sign petition opposing antenna

Residents of Lansell Drive are continuing to fight a proposed communications antenna in their street.



A workshop with Vodafone, the Botany Community Board and residents of the Dannemora street is due to be held on February 23.



Resident Janice Loubser says Manukau City Council chief executive Leigh Auton told residents the council needs to work in the interests of both parties.



She says Mr Auton told them a council employee was involved in choosing the site with Vodafone to ensure its suitability.



But residents are against antennas in any residential areas because of health concerns and the effect on property values.



Mrs Loubser says the company and council’s interests are being taken care of but those of the ratepayer are "bottom of the rung".



A council spokesperson says the antenna is a permitted activity that doesn’t need consent.



A petition is being presented to the council and Vodafone opposing the tower and any others being considered for residential areas. Mrs Loubser says it will also be presented to the government because residents want a law change to stop it being a permitted activity.



She says so far there has been no indication that residents will be able to influence the decision and communication with Vodafone "has not been reassuring".



"Council is hiding behind legislation and putting it in the too-hard basket. I believe there is more the council can do."



To contact the Lansell Drive residents, email stopthetower2008@hotmail.com.