Four sites for phone towers

Cellphone towers similar to the one planned for Atawhai - which has sparked a petition from outraged residents - are also likely to be erected at other sites in Nelson, Stoke and Richmond, as Telecom seeks to develop a whole new mobile phone network.

Telecom spokesman Ian Bonnar said on Tuesday that it had secured all legal rights, including resource consents and landowner agreements, to build four sites including the Atawhai Exchange, Richmond Exchange, one at Nelson Airport and another at Saxton Field.

Mr Bonnar said all sites would have towers that looked similar to Atawhai, at 22m high. The developments were for Telecom's plans to extend its powerful, highspeed 3G network.

Telecom was also "in negotiations for five further sites" ranging from antennas on a pole on a rooftop in the city, to lightpoles and smaller masts (15m).

"We prefer to work with existing structures so that the equipment blends into existing infrastructure," Mr Bonnar said.

City council planning and consents divisional manager Richard Johnson confirmed Telecom was investigating a range of upgrades to communications equipment at several sites throughout Nelson. Some were on undesignated land which meant the company would have to follow the resource consent process.

The other sites being considered by Telecom are understood to include one at 47 Tahunanui Drive, two at Motueka Rd at the Grampians, one on Fringed Hill and another at the Maungatapu microwave station.

Telecom does not need resource consent to develop the Atawhai site, which is located near two playcentres, because it is zoned for telecommunications equipment in the council plan.

However, opponents of the proposed cellphone mast in Atawhai, who presented their concerns to the city council's environment committee Tuesday, urged the council to initiate a plan change.

Playcentre president Sarah Allen said there was concern about the viability of the playcentre if the tower went ahead, leaving parents with the next closest venue at Victory Square.

Ms Allen said outside the meeting that the group's petition opposing the tower could apply to Telecom's wider plans, which they had been "shocked" to learn about.

"We see it as being of national importance. Several members of our group are very committed to it not happening across a wider area, but our focus right now is on the Atawhai site."

Environment committee chairwoman Rachel Reese said the council took the issue very seriously.

"We don't underestimate the seriousness of this. We want to work with smart businesses which want to work with this community."

Nelson Mayor Kerry Marshall said the council had seen the map showing all the sites, which showed it was grappling with a bigger picture than just Atawhai.

"There's an issue for us generally."

Mr Bonnar said Telecom had arranged to bring a specialist in radio frequencies from Auckland University to speak with Nelson residents and the council at next week's public meeting in Atawhai.

"These towers are very low-powered, and represent some of the most tested technology in the world."

He said the specialist would be available to discuss public concerns about the risk factors. He also said Telecom remained open to discussing an alternative site at Atawhai, but the meeting on Tuesday would provide an opportunity for Telecom to "get its side across" also.

The meeting will be held at the Atawhai exchange near Dodson Valley, from 1pm.