Telcos Raise The Ante
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday October 13, 2007
MOBILE phone antennas will be installed on two sports ovals if Shellharbour councillors approve proposals by Telstra and Optus next week.
After Telstra failed to get approval in May for a mobile phone tower in Barrack Heights, it lobbied the council to consider renting its infrastructure for multiple smaller scale devices.On Tuesday, councillors will vote on a recommendation to sign a five-year licence agreement with Telstra and Optus to allow five telecommunications devices, which would earn the council $30,000 in rent each year.The commercial arrangement allows Telstra to install antennas on two sports field light poles at Ron Costello Oval in Shellharbour and on two street light poles in Urana Way and Wattle Rd in Blackbutt.Optus would also install devices on light poles at Keith Hockey Oval in Shellharbour.The council has not put the proposal out for community consultation but the telcos will do their own after the commercial agreement is signed.A development application is not required because the devices would be attached to existing structures, which means they are considered low impact.Telstra Illawarra area general manager Pat Nolan said the proposal to use sports ovals was better for the community than building a multiple-carrier tower."For EMEs (Electromagnetic energy) it's better to have a larger number of low power devices than fewer number of great big ones," he said.Mr Nolan said numerous international studies had failed to find tangible health hazards associated with mobile phone towers and devices.Mr Nolan said people used to be content to use their mobiles outside, but now consumers expected to get service inside their homes. The new devices would fill in the reception black spots.Once Telstra knew it had secured the land it would begin public consultation.If there was enough feedback, Telstra would organise an information event.Barrack Heights resident Karen Martin successfully fought to stop the council approval of a tower near her home and Warilla High School in May.She said it was inappropriate to put telecommunications devices at ovals where children played.Mrs Martin said there was enough scientific evidence to cause concern about long-term health risks.Shellharbour councillor Geoff Rose concurred, and said he would continue his fight against the installation of devices near public amenities.Radio waves et al? Radiofrequency electromagnetic energy (EME) is the transfer of energy by radio waves. ? Mobile phone base stations, broadcast towers and radar facilities all emit EME.? Low levels of EME are emitted from natural sources as well as electrical and electronic equipment.? Electromagnetic energy (EME) is also known as electromagnetic radiation (EMR). ? There are mandatory EME exposure limits for installations such as broadcast towers and mobile phone base stations.? An industry code has been registered that balances the needs of telecommunications carriers with the rights of the public.
© 2007 Illawarra Mercury
