Hauraki Gulf Councillor Denise Roche will ask Prime Minister John Key, Environment Minister Nick Smith and Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye for a review of the national standards on electro-magnetic radiation.

The decision comes in the wake of the last community board meeting amid growing concern about the location of cell phone equipment on the island.

Board chairman Tony Sears also put forward the motion: “The Waiheke Community Board notes that currently the installation of cell sites is a legally complying activity, under the Resource Management Act however, under the new Auckland Council structure, the Board recommends that Local Boards have the power to determine whether future individual mobile cell site consents on Waiheke Island should be notified or not.”

The board acknowledged the location of mobile phone equipment is a largely outside their control under current laws.

Ruth Gracie made a presentation to the board on her fears around an application from Telecom subsidiary Chorus to build a new mobile site at 61 Cory Road.
The Auckland City Council had informed her that concerns could be forwarded in writing as an affected party but “consideration would only be given to the areas of cars accessing the site, shadowing, visual effects and view. Health issues were an outside issue that would not be considered as concerns.”

Board member Herb Romaniuk also moved to amend the letter to note that Auckland City Council’s own standards on electro-magnetic radiation are significantly lower than the national standards.
The issue of cell phones on Waiheke has also attracted interest from TV3 with a documentary crew set to interview local campaigner Stephanie Honeychurch on the issue this week.• Benn Bathgate