Page 2398 - Week 07 - Thursday, 17 August 2006
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(14) How has the ACT Government responded to the recent reports from a Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology office beneath a 3G tower where a number of staff have suffered brain tumours;
(15) Given that the ACT Government has taken the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) EMR acceptable levels as the ACT standard, is the ACT Government aware that EMR limits were relaxed by ARPANSA before 3G technology was introduced to Australia;
(16) How did the ACT Government respond to this move;
(17) Is the ACT Government satisfied with how Australian, and therefore ACT, EMR emission levels compare internationally, noting that some reports suggest China, for example, has emission levels set at 10 times lower than ARPANSA and Switzerland has the emission levels set 8 times lower;
(18) Would the ACT Government consider adopting a more precautionary approach by setting much lower minimum EMR emission levels, especially given the high concentration of proposed towers in the ACT.
Mr Corbell: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) The potential areas are considered by the carriers on the basis of acceptable radio frequency modelling. From their analysis of suitable sites they submit a plan for consideration.
(2) 3G technology requires more towers than 2G because the nature of the technology and because the amount of data (video phones and down-loads of emails to your phone) to be carried requires the towers to be closer together. Canberra is one of the first locations for this technology to be rolled out.
(3) No.
(4) Telstra has started the upgrade of the existing 60 or so 2G sites under the Commonwealth’s Low Impact Determination.
(5) I understand that Optus and Vodafone are concentrating their 3G network on the City and Parliamentary Triangle at present and will expand the network to other areas of the ACT based on market demand. About 10 existing 2G sites are being upgraded using the Low Impact Determination to effect this roll out. I have no information regarding the future network.
(6) The 3GIS (Telstra/Hutchison) requirement is as indicated in their Network Plan, plus a site near Fadden, and the upgraded 60 or so low impact sites. Optus and Vodafone have also been encouraged to do a plan of their intended network rather than individual site applications.
(7) The Fadden site was withdrawn from the Network Plan to permit further investigation for a site that was able to provide coverage as well as other siting considerations. The network plan has been approved.
(8) The assessment of the 3GIS Network Plan by the Authority has been documented and the assessment based upon the “Guideline 1/05 for Telecommunications (Mobile Phone) Networks”.
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