9 February 2001

The Christchurch City Council is pleased that new guidelines for the installation of cell-phone towers confirm the council's conservative approach, says a Councillor.

The chairwoman of the Environment Committee, Cr. Anna Crighton, said yesterday that the council guidelines were more restrictive in the proposed City Plan than those set by the Ministry of Health guidelines. The Council's guidelines were cautious and conservative, she said.

These, called "National Guidelines for Managing the Effects of Radiofrequency Transmitters," were issued in December.

Cr. Crighton said that a report tabled at the committee meeting showed that no health dangers existed relating to cell-phone towers.

Cr. Paddy Austin said she was pleased that the Council guidelines were well within the national guidelines and Cr. Pat Harrow said that there were more dangers in other household appliances than from cell-phone towers.

The guidelines were tabled at the meeting along with a review of a report by Dr Neil Cherry, a leading critic of cell-phone tower health matters. Dr Cherry of Lincoln University criticised the Government's draft guidelines.

The review, carried out by Dr Michael Bates of Environmental Science and Research Ltd in Porirua, was critical of Dr Cherry's report.

Christchurch City Council http://www.ccc.govt.nz

© Scoop Media