Proposed Telecom cell phone tower adjacent to Atawhai Playcentre

Atawhai Playcentre at Corder Park, Nelson, is a early childhood education centre catering for preschool children (new born to age six).

Adjacent to the Playcentre is land designated as a Telecom telephone exchange. Telecom proposes to erect a 22 m high cell phone tower on this land.

The citing of the cell phone tower in this location is a serious concern to the Playcentre and Atawhai Brightsparks Preschool (another early childcare facitlity in close proximity). School children congregate at the bus stop outside the telephone exchange to take the bus to the Nelson colleges. There are also hundreds of dwellings in the vicinity.

There are numerous studies of the effects and health risks of cell phone towers. Some contend that there are no health risks, while other reports consider there to be unacceptable health risks.

There are grave concerns about the potential health risks posed by the proposed cell phone tower. The general opinion of cell phone towers is that they are not without health risks.

Telecom has published Community Commitments (taken from the Telecom web site www.telecom.co.nz - Tuesday 25 March 2008).

Commitment 6 states:

"Our first choice is to avoid locating mobile phone sites next to educational centres in recognition of local communities preferences".

Commitment 2 states:

"We are committed to effective and timely dialogue with the community. We actively listen to issues raised and work to address concerns".

The wider community surrounding Atawhai Playcentre (Dodsons Valley) has also not been consulted or informed of the proposal to date.

Atawhai Playcentre is also very concerned about the effect the cell phone tower may have on the future viability of the Playcentre.

Corder Park is a gateway to Nelson, located along side the Haven Reserve and an "open recreational zone" on state highway 6, the only route into the City from the North. Thus the visual presence of a monumental 22 metre high cell phone tower would be at odds with the current visual amenities of the area.

There can be no doubt that the proposed cell phone tower is required so as to increase financial returns to Telecom...

This website is a single issue community site dedicated to reflecting the current concerns of the people in the area of Corder Park, Nelson. The content is under constant review and is changed and updated regularly by volunteers. Thank you for visiting and please check back soon for the latest reports.
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