Too many antennas says Carl

BY MELANIE VERRAN

A cluster of cellphone towers above a Kohimarama hair salon has caused a stir among residents.

Mobile network newcomer NZ Communications installed three antennas above Hedz Above Hair Design on Melanesia Rd last month, adding to the four existing Telecom antennas at the site.

St Heliers resident Carl Knox says he was concerned to see more towers.

"It’s like something from the CIA up there now," he says. "It’s unbelievable what they’ve done."

He says inconclusive studies into the possible effects of exposure to radio transmissions make people nervous.

"It’s such an unknown degree to what effect it has on the environment and people’s health. And to have them clustered like that is just unbelievable. They’re just so intrusive to the neighbourhood."

Salon owner Diane Smith says working beneath the transmitters makes her uneasy.

"I’m not very happy about it," she says. "I’d like to see written proof that the radiation levels aren’t dangerous."

Mr Knox says he was shocked when he phoned the Auckland City Council and was told the towers did not require resource consent.

"You’ve got to get consent for all kinds of things. If you want to do anything in your home there’s all kinds of red tape but they can do something like this."

Council regulatory planning manager Andrew Gysberts says in business areas, where the heights of the proposed antennas comply with the zoning rules, they can be established without resource consent.

"They’ve got to meet the national standards relating to radio frequency and they must comply with the noise restrictions of our district plan," he says.

"If they meet these standards they can be established without formal authorisation. But they still need a building consent."

Mr Knox says with an older population in the seaside suburb, many residents won’t benefit from the increased cellphone coverage.

"I just feel we’re losing control of our neighbourhoods to big business," he says.

"They’re giving the fingers to the people who live round here and the landlord is just chasing the dollar."

Cellphone companies are also free to place cellphone towers on the road reserve provided they comply with radio frequency, height and noise requirements, after a new national standard was passed last year.

- © Fairfax NZ News