Challenge over proximity of proposed cellphone tower

A Hawea resident whose house is directly opposite a proposed Spark telecommunications tower has asked if the chief executive of Spark would live within 50m one of his cellphone towers.

At the second and final day of the resource consent hearing into the application by Spark to build the 16m tower on the edge of Peter Fraser Park in Capell Ave, submitter Dr David Gwynne-Jones said he had concerns regarding the safety of living so close to the tower.

''Although Spark says it is within the current limits [set by the Ministry of Health], it is not known what the long-term effects are of exposure to radio frequency radiation.''

He said the Ministry of Health guidelines were initially developed in 1998 and complying with a 20-year-old and possibly outdated standard was not compelling evidence of safety.

''In my role as clinical director of orthopaedic surgery over the last 10 years I have had a lot of contacts with so-called experts within the Ministry of Health and I have learned not to take the so-called expert opinion from the Ministry of Health as gospel.

''I do ask the question: would a radio frequency engineer choose to live within 50m of a cellphone tower with the potential long-term consequences or would the CEO of Spark like to live 50m within one of his cellphone towers?''

Dr Gwynne-Jones told independent commissioners Bob Nixon and David Whitney he accepted there was a need for a functional telecommunications network but Spark had not consulted or engaged meaningfully with the community over the location of the tower and had ''ignored the wishes of the community''.

''The tower is not wanted, too high and in the wrong place ... and not all alternative options have been explored,'' he said.

In her evidence Hawea Community Association chairwoman April Mackenzie said it was important to note Hawea township limited the height of its buildings to 7m and vistas and open spaces were held as critical objectives for Hawea in the district plan. The town welcomed masts but out of town ''where they can't be seen''.

Other concerns raised by submitters included the effect it would have on neighbouring property prices, the commercial impact it could have on the community centre as a wedding venue and if it would affect helicopters using the park as a helipad in times of emergency.