Sudden unsightly cell towers anger residents

Neighbouring residents and some golfers are upset that an unsightly 11-metre high 5G cellphone tower suddenly appeared right beside prime residential properties in the middle of one of Kelvin Heights Golf Course’s most picturesque views.

This follows another obtrusive cell tower erected on the hill between Lakes Hayes Estate and Shotover Country, where some residents are also outraged.

They’re the first of seven planned new cell sites around the Wakatipu and Upper Clutha, including one for Queenstown Hill (Suburb Street-Frankton Road corner), and Slopehill Road, with 11 also being upgraded.

Only a handful of Kelvin Heights homeowners were notified.

Golf Course manager Andrew Bell received an email on 31 January, stating the tower would be going in on the course boundary, on Crown land by the 4th tee and bus stop.

“We had no say in it as it’s not on our leasehold land. We got told it was happening.”

Connexa was engaged by Spark to make improvements to Queenstown’s cell network. No public consultation is required, as they’re approved under the National Environmental Standards for Telecommunications Facilities 2016.

The rules enable the telecommunications industry to erect infrastructure considered required by communities, generally without public notification.

The Kelvin Heights Tower exceeds the permitted height and width, but only by 500mm too high and 77mm too wide, so council resource consent approval was given.

Clare Phillips, who lives just metres away, says it’s “a real eyesore”. “There should have been proper consultation, not a letter telling us it was happening with very little notice.”

Peninsula resident and golfer Judy Stephens says she was “appalled and horrified” when she saw the tower right in the middle of the Remarkables view. “I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was the first thing I was confronted with where I would normally look out at that beautiful view.”

Kelvin Peninsula Community Association chair David Mayhew says they received no notification and weren’t asked for comment.

“Had we been aware we’d have at least posted it on our Facebook page,” he says. “I’m unsurprised. The cynic in me thinks this is the way the corporate world works, and local people just have to put up with it,” he says. “It’s really about consultation, to get an opportunity to encourage where this should be located for aesthetics, even though we may not be able to stop it.” He says it’s “extraordinary” that it’s right on a bus stop.

A mail drop went to residents within a 50m circle, to just eight houses. Telecommunications guidelines only require that to be within 30m.

QLDC infrastructure committee chair Cr Gavin Bartlett, who was told about the plans in October, agrees that only eight properties being informed at Kelvin Heights was “a bit light”.

In an earlier email to councillors, Connexa said it was “open with the local community about proposed cell sites, their purpose and location, and communicates directly with residents that are nearby”.

Connexa Planning and engagement lead Fiona Matthews says: “Spark identified this area as requiring an upgrade to avoid potential disruptions to mobile service — especially during peak seasons.”

Multiple sites were assessed, alternatives ruled out due to planning constraints. The tower will be painted Karaka green to “blend in”.

Cr Melissa White tried hard to get the Lake Hayes Estate tower relocated 20m back before it went up a few weeks ago. “It’s so ugly,” she says. “It’s where I walk the kids to school, a horrific place to put it.

“They claim to have a ‘robust engagement process’ and want to keep councillors informed but they didn’t listen to what I had to say.”

Local community association chair Anita Golden says the location is “pretty offensive”. “It could’ve gone 50m up against the treeline out of sight.” She’s also questioning the safety of any emissions for those nearby.”

Matthews says the Queenstown Hill site is under construction and “the other sites are in an acquisition phase”.

Lake Hayes should be on air by mid-May and Kelvin Heights is likely to be July or August.