Aim to have cell-sites away from homes

Christchurch City Council aims to ensure cell phone sites are not near residential properties wherever possible.

"Telecommunication companies will be offered Council land where no other suitable sites are possible, and we will inform the community of any sites nominated," says project co-ordinator John de Zwart.

The following protocol was adopted by Council at its May meeting:

Council's protocol for dealing with applications to site cellular telephone base stations (sites) on Council-owned land.

1. The telecommunication companies will indicate to Council staff the areas of the City that they need to site cellular telephone base stations, particularly those areas in which they are experiencing the greatest difficulties in securing suitable sites.

2. The (Council) Property Unit will identify Council-owned property in these areas and report these findings to the telecommunication companies.

3. When a Council-owned site looks promising to the telecommunication company it will need to make an application for the use of Council land, including evidence of, or reasons for, failure to secure suitable non residential land.

4. The details of the telecommunication companies' plans will then be forwarded to relevant Units for comment. Units can include most units of Council but more often Water Services, Waste Management, Parks, Environmental Services, Environmental Policy and Planning, City Streets, Legal Services, Parking, Service Centres, Libraries, Property and Works. Tenants of Council property will also need to be consulted.

5. All findings will then be reported to the Council Subcommittee that deals with cell phone tower placement.

6. Reasonable costs incurred in processing applications for use of Council-owned property will be recovered from the telecommunication companies.

7. The Council Subcommittee will consider whether some form of public hearing to assist it to make a decision as landowner, is appropriate.

8. The protocol will be reviewed after one year (from 25 May 2000).

For cell phone tower information visit www.ccc.govt.nz.