Consent for cell tower angers property owner

Brighton resident Kaye Wilson is "furious" plans for a 30m-high cellphone tower near her home...
Brighton resident Kaye Wilson is "furious" plans for a 30m-high cellphone tower near her home have been approved. The tower will be positioned in front of the 7m-high water tower pictured behind her. Photo by Jane Dawber.
Brighton woman Kaye Wilson says she may be forced sell her home, after the Dunedin City Council approved plans for a 30m-high cellphone tower nearby.

Mrs Wilson and husband Stephen were among 10 residents to oppose plans by Vodafone New Zealand to build the tower on rural land it owned beside Scroggs Hill Rd, overlooking Brighton.

This week, they learned the council had granted resource consent for the tower, which when built would be more than twice the height allowed under district plan rules.

Mrs Wilson yesterday told the Otago Daily Times the couple would be seriously considering an appeal to the Environment Court or selling their home.

She was worried about possible health problems arising from emissions from the cellphone tower, and Mr Wilson - at a public hearing last month - spoke about losing the views he had expected to enjoy in his retirement.

"We are furious, absolutely furious. It just drives me nuts that they can just do these things.

"Neither of us want to live under a cellphone tower," Mrs Wilson said.

Vodafone wanted to build the tower to meet growing demand for cellphone services in the area, and had identified the land - previously owned by the council - overlooking the township and 1.5km from Brighton beach.

It would also be built near two neighbouring properties, located 85m and 160m away, an existing Telecom facility, and would be 2km south of the Saddle Hill landscape conservation area and 1km north of the South Coast Coastal Landscape Preservation area.

Residents opposed to the application objected to the effect on their homes' property values and views, and possibly to their health.

At a hearing last month, Mr Wilson told the council's hearings panel, headed by independent commissioner Allan Cubitt, the tower would "loom" over the couple's home.

Mr Cubitt, in his written decision, acknowledged the tower's height would breach district plan rules.

Despite that, the tower would compare favourably with others that could be built on the site as of right, which would comply with district plan rules but be wider and more visible, he believed.

The committee had discussed at length the visual effect the tower would have on neighbours, but judging it was "subjective and difficult", he said.

The decision was "very finely balanced" with adverse visual effects from some locations and, in particular, the Wilsons' property, he said.

However, the overall effect would not be "overly significant when compared to the effects of a permitted facility", he said.

Concerns about possible health problems from cellphone tower emissions was not an issue for the panel to consider, although the tower met relevant New Zealand standards, he said.

His comments came as a parliamentary select committee rejected calls to ban cellphone towers near schools and homes, but recommended the Government consider reviewing the national standard for cellsite emissions, amid strong public concern about their safety, Radio New Zealand reported yesterday.

Conditions attached to the consent required the tower to be painted grey to help reduce the visual impact, and not have cables, wiring or other similar infrastructure attached to the exterior.

Submitters have 15 working days to lodge an appeal with the Environment Court.

chris.morris@odt.co.nz

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