Atawhai

Tuesday, 19 January 2010 By MARIANNE KELLY

PEOPLE protesting about the installation of cellphone masts are angry that 2degrees has rejected alternative sites away from residential properties.

Protests erupted last week when staff from the telecommunications company arrived, with security and police back-up, to put in equipment in Clovelly Road and Pigeon Mountain Road, Bucklands Beach, and at Page Point in Mellons Bay.

Efforts to look for alternative sites came to nothing and, in September, Manukau City Council agreed to the Bucklands Beach network licences. 

A long-standing campaign to stop the Page Point mast on heritage grounds was also lost when a licence was approved just before Christmas.

"We could have come up with a solution," says Sharon Stewart, city councillor for Howick.
"The telcos could have gone onto Pigeon Mountain or Musick Point, but they are coming up with wishy-washy reasons and we're taking their word for it."

In its assessment of site locations, 2degrees had the following to say about the Bucklands Beach sites:

? OUTSIDE 145 CLOVELLY ROAD: This site uses the natural elevation of the terrain and is centrally located within the target coverage area. It has been chosen as it has a very good line of sight down into Eastern Beach and has sufficient elevation for the Bucklands Beach plateau. It meets all of the coverage requirements for the area. Vodafone has chosen a site on this road for similar technical reasons.

Alternatives

Musick Point: Another site at Musick Point is planned to provide marine coverage. It is too far away from the target coverage area to provide any significant benefit. Signal will not be able to get past the Clovelly Road ridge which goes down into Eastern Beach and, because of the distance (from the proposed Musick Point site location by the memorial building), it will not offer much coverage south of the golf course.

Macleans Park (end of Bleakhouse Road): No existing pole. Coverage will be good down into the central and eastern areas of Eastern Beach. However the site is not centrally located within the required coverage area resulting in poor coverage to the areas to the north of Clovelly Road. Also this site is close to the existing Macleans Road site.

? OUTSIDE 25 PIGEON MOUNTAIN ROAD: This site uses the natural elevation of the terrain and is centrally located within the target coverage area. It meets all coverage requirements for the area. Least view disruptions at number 25.

Alternatives

Outside park, Himalaya Drive: No street lights and fairly large trees. Any structure would need to be sited within the road reserve. This park is lower than Prince Regent Drive and any structure would need to make up that height difference.

Pigeon Mountain Reserve sports ground: This area has poor visibility into the general Prince Regent Drive area and will provide no coverage to the marina area.

Pigeon Mountain: This site has far too much elevation and will be difficult to control coverage resulting in excessive network interference. Also Half Moon Rise will prevent quality coverage into the marina area.

Community centre, scout hall, Pigeon Mountain and the tennis club:  These areas have poor visibility into the general Prince Regent Drive area and will provide no coverage to the marina area.

? OUTSIDE 25 PIGEON MOUNTAIN ROAD: This site uses the natural elevation of the terrain and is centrally located within the target coverage area. It meets all coverage requirements for the area. Least view disruptions at number 25.

Alternatives

Outside park, Himalaya Drive: No street lights and fairly large trees. Any structure would need to be sited within the road reserve. This park is lower than Prince Regent Drive and any structure would need to make up that height difference.

Pigeon Mountain Reserve sports ground: This area has poor visibility into the general Prince Regent Drive area and will provide no coverage to the marina area.

Pigeon Mountain: This site has far too much elevation and will be difficult to control coverage resulting in excessive network interference. Also Half Moon Rise will prevent quality coverage into the marina area.

Community centre, scout hall, Pigeon Mountain and the tennis club:  These areas have poor visibility into the general Prince Regent Drive area and will provide no coverage to the marina area.