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Changes to Government rules around environmental standards for telecommunications equipment mean that larger cellphone antennas than ever before can be put up on streetlights or power poles.
However, erection of the much larger and more powerful cellphone towers in urban areas still requires resource consent from local authorities.
The new National Environmental Standards for Telecommunications Facilities comes into force under the Resource Management Act on January 1, 2017.
NZ Telecommunications Forum chief executive Geoff Thorn says the original intention was for Government to simply update the existing standards to reflect changes in technology – but instead the rules were completely re-written.
The aim is to speed up repairs, maintenance and installation processes for telecommunications companies by taking away the need for resource consent.
Communications Minister Amy Adams says it will also speed up the rollout of ultrafast broadband. Mr Thorn says putting these structures on light poles was already permitted under the old rules, but the main changes in urban areas are that the height of a pole and antenna can now be 3.5m over the height of the existing light pole (formerly, this was 3m).
Mr Thorn says if there is no existing light pole, the telecommunications company can erect a new one to put its equipment on.
In some cases, including near visual amenities, schools, view shafts or protected trees, consent will still be required from Council.
