Sydney Council proposes guidelines for siting of mobile phone towers.

In September 1996 the Environmental Services Department of the Sutherland Shire Council prepared a Draft Interim Policy - Siting of Microwave Towers in Sutherland Shire. The council feels that not withstanding the exemptions given the telecommunications carriers from compliance with state and local regulations by the Telecommunications National Code, the code still requires the carriers to consult with local governments and the community (provided the council requests it).

As such, local governments should have a policy in place to protect the rights of community members. During the month of October 1996 the Draft Interim Policy is on exhibition at the council chambers for public and industry comment.

To quote from their Report in brief:

"The Telecommunications National Code requires that mobile phone carriers are required to consult with the community in relation to installation of mobile phone base stations.

"Council has encouraged the siting of such stations away from residential properties, and preferably within industrial, business or recreational areas.

"...While the full impacts of microwave exposure are not understood, it may be possible, with appropriate public and industry consultation, to provide a precautionary approach on siting, based upon existing research. Protection of public health and the natural environment may be undertaken in a more effective way via the development of an interim policy.

"The draft interim policy below proposes establishment of a site specific guideline for exposure of the public, and several land-use procedures to minimize human and natural environment impacts. It has been produced with the additional goal of enabling telecommunications needs to be met efficiently.

"Some public discussion about the non-thermal impacts of microwaves on humans, (much of it based upon recent discussions in New Zealand regarding acceptable precautionary public exposure limits to microwaves), has supported an interim precautionary exposure limit of around 0.1 to 0.2 microwatts/sq.cm. (uW/sq. cm.).

"This is approximately 1000 times more conservative (lower) than the currant Australian Standard which is based on thermal impacts and safety factors. A defacto assumption to the effect that a 300 metre distance between microwave base stations and residences would meet such an interim standard has also been put forward publicly."

"Council is not in a position to endorse these exposure levels as acceptable for protection of public health. However, it is considered that for many base stations in industrial, business, or recreational areas, a 300 metre buffer zone to residences would enjoy public confidence with respect to minimizing public health risks, and can be incorporated with effective planning, such that effective base station operation is not prevented.

"It is understood that for digital base stations the ground level exposures adjacent to 20 metre high microwave base stations are routinely lower than 0.2 uW/sq.cm.

"On that basis, it would be possible to envisage an interim guideline for development agreement purposes whereby new microwave base stations are only sited in residential areas where maximum available distances from residences are employed, and where average annual exposures to the public would be below 0.2uW/sq. cm.

"As a further precaution, it should be possible to avoid siting base stations within 300 metres of a sensitive use (school, kindergarten, play centre, hospital or aged care centre)."