NSW: Refshauge defends PlanningNSW over towers
SYDNEY, Feb 17 AAP - NSW Planning Minister Andrew Refshauge defended his departmenttoday against claims it erred in allowing highrise home units to be built too close toradio transmission towers.
It will now cost radio stations 2UE and 2SM up to $40 million to relocate the towersfrom Homebush Bay because of health risks to residents in a 1,200 unit project still beingbuilt.
A report in the Sydney Morning Herald said two federal communications watchdogs warnedthe NSW government that electromagnetic radiation from the high-powered transmitters wouldbe unacceptably high in units on the third floor and above of the proposed development.
But Dr Refshauge said PlanningNSW approved the project four years ago on the best informationit had at the time.
"There was no information to suggest radio broadcasts would cause any problem, despitethe fact the proposal was advertised widely," he told reporters.
"There was no submission made that would suggest that there was any problem."
In any case, the broadcasters had to move the towers now because they intend to doubletheir broadcast power, Dr Refshauge said.
"That would have required them to move anyway and their lease on that site had runout, although they had a right to ask for an extension on that lease."
Taxpayers would not be responsible for relocation costs, Dr Refshauge said.
AAP jph/nf/cjh/ts
KEYWORD: TOWERS REFSHAUGE
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