Playcentre could move to avoid tower

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.

- © Fairfax NZ News