The public has until Friday March 17 to comment on the City’s proposal to lease part of Umarah Park for a 12-metre cell tower. Picture: Janice Matthews
A City plan to lease part of a Constantia park for a 12-metre cell tower has drawn fire from residents who have started a petition against it.
The Constantia Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (CRRA) says it has not received formal notification about the plan.
The public has until Monday March 17 to comment on the proposal to lease a 6.5m² portion of Umrah Park in Umarah Close to Rich Rewards Pty Ltd for a base rental income of R4 770 for 10 years with the option to renew.
The purpose of the tower is for “uninterrupted telecommunications services to the community,” according to a notice in a document intended for ratepayers, civic groups, and the sub-council’s notice board.
The notice was also published in the Cape Argus and Die Burger on Friday February 10.
Several large properties surround the municipal park, a small grassy field shaded by a few large trees. The cell mast would be sited behind an electricity substation in a corner of the park.
Nearby homeowner Carolyn Gaudin, who started a petition that now has close to 70 signatures, said residents walked their dogs in the park and children played there.
“I personally received a letter of notification from the City as my property backs onto the park, but after a couple of hours walking around my immediate neighbourhood, it became clear very quickly that very few residents had been notified. I’d say approximately ten received the personal notification letter and only if their property was actually bordering on the park or directly opposite it. Some residents in the actual proposed road with their homes in closer proximity to the proposed site than mine weren’t even directly notified.”
Ms Gaudin said she was concerned that electromagnetic radiation from the tower could threaten her family’s health.
“In the absence of 100% proof that cell towers do not endanger the health of the population in any way whatsoever, it is fundamentally important to minimise the risk,” she said.
The cell tower could also hurt property values in the area, she said.
“It has become abundantly clear that most of the neighbourhood was completely oblivious to what could potentially be erected within metres of their homes. The overwhelming response has been one of concern, unhappiness and anger,” Ms Gaudin said.
Mayoral committee member for economic growth James Vos said that in terms of the public-participation process the City was only obliged to send notices to adjacent landowners as well as to the sub-council, the ward councillor and the national and provincial Treasury.
“The City is therefore, for example, not required to publish an advertisement in a printed newspaper in respect of the disposal of non-significant property rights,” he said.
CRRA chairwoman Sheila Camerer said residents near the site of the proposed tower were “up in arms”, and the association would support them.
“It does seem inappropriate to put a tower in a parkland area, and the matter will be on our agenda for our forthcoming exco meeting, on Thursday March 2. I have also referred the matter to our land-use committee for their input.”
“While it is true that Constantia is plagued by poor cellphone reception in certain areas, it is important that towers and masts are properly placed. The CRRA fights inappropriate development wherever we find it or it is brought to our notice by residents.”
In an email to Gary Dammert, the acting director of the city’s property management department, CRRA manager John Hesom says the representative body for Constantia ratepayers did not receive a formal notice of the application and, accordingly, the association wants the comment period extended.
The American Cancer Society says that at this time there is no strong evidence that exposure to radiofrequency waves from cell towers causes any noticeable health effects. However, this does not mean it has been proven to be absolutely safe and most expert organisations agree more research is needed to clarify this, especially for any possible long-term effects.
Any comments or objections must be submitted in writing together with reasons to the Regional Head: Property Holding, Improved Properties, PO Box 4557, Cape Town or emailed to cellmast.objection@capetown.gov.za on or before Friday March 17.