The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters Incorporated

ANTENNA ERECTION PLANNING GUIDE

Developed for NZART Council, May 2002

PURPOSE:

This Guide is to give general guidelines for radio amateurs who wish to erect poles, masts, towers and other support structures for radio antennas.

Note that the words antenna and aerial are considered to be synonymous.

DISTRICT PLANS:

There are 73 different City and District Councils (plus Regional Councils) within New Zealand. Each of these Councils has its own District Plan or Scheme. There is little to no commonality between these Plans when it comes to the matters that concern radio amateurs.

In many of these Plans, the only references to Radio Towers, Masts, Antennas etc relate to those types of structure that TV Stations and Cellphone companies erect and are primarily concerned with the levels of radiation from the structure.

THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT:

Most District Plans are written to conform to the requirements of the R.M.A. (Some Councils still operate under the "Transitional Plans" that followed the amalgamation of Councils some 12 years ago!)

The R.M.A. is an extremely complex Act. Its provisions have been interpreted in many different was by different Councils. In short, the definition of any particular matter under the Act will vary from Council to Council.

RESOURCE CONSENT APPLICATIONS:

To control the development of a District it is usual for the District Plan to have Rules that allow or prohibit certain types of land use or activities. The Rules are, usually, termed:

1. Permitted
2. Controlled
3. Discretionary
4. Non-complying
5. Prohibited

'Permitted' activities are those allowed by right, within the District Plan. Amateurs will need to study their District Plan to determine what is and what is not "Permitted". "Controlled", "Discretionary" and "Non-complying" activities/structures require that an application for a 'Resource Consent" be made to the local Council. The application may be approved, approved with conditions, or refused.

"Prohibited", obviously, relates to matters specifically prohibited in the District Plan.

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION:

Should you wish to erect your antenna/supports etc in an area that requires you to make a Resource Consent Application, it is important that the application be accurate and complete when submitted to a Council. The following check list enumerates the items that will be required in your application, (usually in three copies):

1. Completed Application Form (Obtain from Council)
2. A Location Plan
3. A Site Plan (to scale)
4. A Written Description of what you wish to do
5. An Assessment of the effects (both positive and negative) that your antenna/support may have on the environment
6. A description of how you plan to minimise any adverse effects
7. Records of Consultations with neighbours and/or affected parties
8. Any monitoring/maintenance you think may be necessary during the life of the 'project'.
9. A Deposit Fee.

To the above you may also have to add Engineers Certifications as to the structural safety of towers etc.

Be prepared to supply further information to Council Officers during the processing of your application.

CONSULTATION:

The process of 'Consultation' requires that you, the applicant, may have to consult all or any of the following, depending on where you wish to erect your antenna:

1. Neighbours/Adjacent Landowner
2. Iwi Groups (where applicable)
3. Department of Conservation
4. Environmental groups

In most cases, Amateurs will only need to consult with their neighbours and other persons who's out-look may be affected by their antenna/tower.

Where a neighbour or affected party signifies that they have no objection to your proposed erection, get them to sign a simple statement to that effect. (A suggested pro-forma is attached)

BUILDING PERMITS:

If your proposed erection is a "Permitted" activity, or if you have successfully obtained a Resource Consent, you will, additionally, also require a Building Permit before any construction work commences. Much of the material supplied in a Resource Consent Application may also be required in your application for a Building Permit, and, most certainly, detailed constructional plans will be required.

The Building Permit attracts a fee additional to the Resource Consent Application fee. The scale of fees varies between Councils.

RADIATION CONCERNS:

Central Government has devolved upon local Councils the responsibility to ensure that the citizens of any area are protected from harmful radiation.

Few Councils employ Planners or other staff who understand radiation matters. Thus they seek, in the application of their Plan, to totally prohibit or restrict to un-workable levels any form of electromagnetic radiation.

Radio amateurs are advised not to raise this matter in any application to a Council unless they are prepared to enter into lengthy and potentially very expensive legal/technical argument.

"No Objection" Pro-forma.
I/We ......................................................................... (Names)
Of    ........................................................................ (Address)
Phone ..........................................
Have been consulted by ....................................... (Name of applicant)
Regarding his/her proposed radio antenna/tower/support 
And I/we have No Objection to this proposal
Signed ....................................       Date ...............................