Antenna Plan Riles Residents

Antenna Plan Riles Residents

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday July 17, 2007

By TOM STURROCK

A GROUP of Bulli residents has clashed with Telstra over the planned installation of an antenna and equipment shelter in a suburban street.

The technology is designed to improve mobile phone coverage, but the residents of Tyrwhitt Ave are concerned about possible health problems stemming from exposure to electromagnetic energy (EME).

Dr John Booth outlined the concerns of the residents, who have formed a petition to block the installation of the technology.

"They're trying to convince the public that there are no risks to health, but the research is limited and there have been no findings on the long-term effects on kids," Dr Booth said.

"We could be talking about long-term effects on the central nervous system, increased cell production and elevated stress responses."

The antenna will be attached to an existing telephone pole, and the 1.6m-high cube-shaped equipment shelter will be located in the backyard of one of the street's houses.

Telstra Country Wide regional manager Pat Nolan said residents' health concerns were misplaced.

"There is no scientific support to say these low levels of EME have any side effects," Mr Nolan said.

"This technology would operate at 0.37 per cent of the levels of EME that are allowed - that's not coming from Telstra, but from the federal body set up to write the laws on EME."

That body is the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, and Colin Roy, an agency expert in the effects of radio frequency exposure, supports Telstra's claims.

"In all the reviews, no organisation or scientific person of any reputation has come out to say there are any side effects," Mr Roy said.

"The studies to date measure greater periods than 10 years - it varies from country to country, but most have had significant mobile coverage for at least a decade."

But Dr Booth and the residents of Tyrwhitt Ave remain unconvinced.

"There's been no community consultation on this, it's just like 'here it is, this is where it's going'," Dr Booth said.

"Because it's classified as low impact, Telstra think they can do what they like - it's another example of how public opinion means nothing."