Residents on Bethlehem Rd in Tauranga feel like “guinea pigs”, as a 5G tower outside is set to go up outside their homes.

“We feel as if residents’ voices do not matter,” property owner Peter Mulligan said.

Mulligan and a group of residents received letters from Connexa in February regarding a 5G tower to be installed outside their property.

Once the tower receives approval from the Tauranga City Council, construction can begin, Mulligan said.

After canvassing the neighbourhood and surrounding streets, Mulligan acquired 75 signatories on a petition rejecting the proposed tower site.

At first, Mulligan had approached Mayor Mahé Drysdale and the council for help, but was informed they needed to deal with the company directly.

“We’re up to four people [at Connexa] now, all taking part,” Mulligan said.

“It is almost like whoever opens the email deals with it on the day.”

Signs along Waimapu Street, protesting the proposed cell site. Photo / David Hall

He and his wife, Kate, have contacted Bill and Bev Irvine, who had lodged a similar complaint about a 5G tower in Waimapu St, Greerton.

Tauranga City Council has since approved the building of a 15-metre tower outside the Irvines’ property.

“It was rubber stamped,” Mulligan said.

Bethlehem residents Richard Higginson, Peter Mulligan, Liz Turner, Margaret Murray-Benge, Stephen Hennesey, Russell Turner and Eric Coleman, says no to the proposed 5G Tower.

The Tauranga City Council added a new footpath at the beginning of the year, further making the 73 Bethlehem site unsuitable, Mulligan said.

Bethlehem resident Stephen Hennesey said that it felt like bullying, and the residents’ rights were being stripped away.

“We won’t stand for it.”

Bethlehem resident Liz Turner, with her husband Russell, voiced concern that residents were being silenced and said the necessary expansion of telecommunications was harming wellbeing.

“Is it worth the cost?” she said.

5G cell phone tower.

Connexa has partnered with Spark to improve Tauranga’s mobile network, helping residents and businesses connect to the digital world, Connexa’s planning and engagement lead, Fiona Matthews, said in an email.

“To enable this, new cell sites are needed to bring 4G and 5G mobile services to communities across the country.”

These new sites include Bethlehem Rd, Bethlehem, and Waimapu St, Greerton, which are yet to be built, Matthews said.

Cell sites are considered a part of New Zealand’s critical infrastructure along with roads, power, water, wastewater, and sewerage reticulation.

District plans or national directives typically permit these types of lifeline utilities; for cell towers, this is the National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities 2016 (NESTF).

“Under these standards, the site qualifies as permitted, meaning it can be built without a resource consent or consultation,” Matthews said.

Connectivity has become a vital lifeline, playing a crucial role in keeping communities safe, particularly during times of crisis.

Important factors include underground utilities, overhead power lines, and the site’s ability to provide optimal coverage for most people, Matthews said.

The location must comply with all relevant legislation, have access to power and fibre infrastructure, and be free from interference caused by existing radio infrastructure, terrain, buildings, or vegetation.

Clare Faye, and residents from Waimapu St, protest at a proposed 5G cell site. Photo / David Hall

“In the case of Bethlehem Road and Greerton, the new cell sites must be in areas where the coverage footprint is optimised.

“Which happen to be located within residential zones.”

Connexa and all mobile operators have adopted the voluntary Telecommunications Carriers Forum Guidelines for Community Engagement, Matthews said.

“As part of this process, Connexa writes to properties near the proposed site before construction begins, offering residents a point of contact for any questions they may have.”

Building a cell site in an industrial location elsewhere will not address the service issues in these areas, Matthews said.

Mobile network operators monitor network traffic to identify when specific cell sites are overwhelmed and unable to provide optimal service, helping them determine where new cell sites are needed.

When the existing cell site cannot handle the mobile traffic, a new cell site is required to continue providing quality services to customers across the area.

This will ease the strain on the overloaded cell sites in Bethlehem and Greerton, improving service for customers, especially for streaming, Matthews said.

“If not addressed, this issue will worsen over time.”

Bethlehem ward councillor Kevin Schuler.

Tauranga City councillor Kevin Schuler said that while installing 5G towers enhances critical infrastructure for the city, placing them directly in front of people’s homes is unacceptable to residents.

“It is a tricky situation.”

Traditionally, the roadway corridor, also known as a road reserve or road space, has always had telecommunications running alongside it, Schuler said.

“Traditionally, it was just a line of wire, underground. Now you are dealing with a cell tower.”

The current National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities 2016 allow Connexa to construct these towers, aiming to improve citywide connectivity, Schuler said.

“They [Connexa] have got the right to do that.”

Any changes would need to come from the central Government, as there was only so much the Tauranga City Council could do around these towers, Schuler said.

MP for Tauranga Sam Uffindell says very few people want a large tower outside their home. Photo / Alex Cairns

When this issue was raised in Bethlehem, residents came together and met with Connexa/Spark, who in turn met with them to hear their concerns and respond to their objections, Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell said.

“I understand the concerns of those affected... very few people want a large tower outside their home.”

Despite their concerns, regional and provincial connectivity is a priority of the National-led government, Uffindell said.

“The key is in ensuring that the towers are located in areas that achieve the necessary high level of connectivity while minimising the impact on the public and engaging proactively with the community.”