Council taken to task over tower

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt and city councillors have copped flak for letting their internal squabbles get in the way of helping residents in need.

City man Paul FitzGerald, a spokesman for angry residents opposing Telecom's plans to build a cellphone tower in King St, said Mr Shadbolt and councillors had not gone in to bat for them.

Speaking at a city council meeting yesterday, Mr FitzGerald said no councillor had bothered to meet the concerned residents when they were fighting against the proposal, while Mr Shadbolt had not replied to his request for assistance.

"Disunity in the council is absorbing your time. Concentrate on the ratepayers and residents. Telecom is walking over us," he told Mr Shadbolt and councillors.

Mr FitzGerald did, however, thank senior council manager William Watt for his help during the residents' fight.

Mr FitzGerald said it was disgraceful Telecom had ignored the residents' 655-signature petition. He asked the council to push for changes to the district plan so it was harder to put cellphone towers beside people's homes.

Cr Norman Elder suggested Mr Shadbolt approach Telecom directly.

Mr Shadbolt said the council would make another submission to Telecom.

"We can have another go at it, that's all we can do."

With Telecom allowed to build cellphone towers without resource consent if they meet certain requirements, Telecom subsidiary Chorus has a compliance certificate from the city council and plans to build the mast behind United Video.

The mast can be 18m high and will be sited as little as 10m from neighbouring houses in King St.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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