Telcos Use New Council Process For Mobile Phone Sites

Telecommunications companies Telecom New Zealand and Vodafone New Zealand have made their first applications under a new process to build mobile phone sites on Christchurch City Council owned property.

Both companies have applied to the Council’s Telecommunications Liaison Office to locate mobile phone sites on the QEII Stadium, the Burnside Water Tower, and Council land at Styx Mill Transfer Station, Redwood. The companies will be holding information days at the Ascot Community Hall on 23 August, Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club on 24 August and the Redwood Hotel on 25 August respectively, for people interested in the proposed facilities.

Under the new process Telecom and Vodafone can apply for the use of Council owned property, where suitable privately owned land is not available, or may be inappropriate in terms of the potential impact on a community.

Telecom Acting General Manager Mobile Networks Bill Highet said these were the first applications under the new process and communities would have the opportunity to view and comment on the proposed mobile phone sites.

"Communities will have the opportunity to comment on the proposals through the resource consent process, which will be publicly advertised for each site," he said.

Vodafone's General Manager of Engineering Jeni Mundy said the aim was to minimise the impact on communities by selecting the best location and design of each site.

"We have looked at a number of alternative locations on privately owned property, but ruled them out because they were unsuitable for technical reasons, or because of their potential impact on the community.” The Council’s Telecommunications Liaison Office will consider the applications and report to the Council’s Cellsites Sub-committee. The sub-committee will decide whether to allow a telecommunications facility on Council property. If the application is approved, the telecommunications companies must then apply for a resource consent, which will be publicly notified, giving people the opportunity to make submissions and attend a public hearing.

All mobile phone sites must meet the requirements of the Christchurch District Plan.

Ends

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