Here we go again – residents in Pirongia meet to discuss the proposed site of the new cell tower. Photo: Nick Empson
Pirongia’s Tower Action Group has suggested the “easy option” has been selected to put up a cell tower in the village.
Mobile tower Infrastructure company Connexa caught the community off guard last month by announcing it planned to have the tower in the town centre up by the end of this month.
Residents who opposed the site when it was proposed in 2019 have already met to voice their displeasure, and now the action group is calling on Spark and Connexa to work with the community to reach an agreement on a site outside the village.
They remain unconvinced at the ruling out of a site on nearby Penny Road.
Pirongia
A statement from the group, sent to The News by Pirongia Community Association chair Ruth Webb refers to broken promises and concern that the Waipā District Council knew what was happening a month before the community.
It said a 2019 agreement made by Spark to Pirongia residents for public engagement and consultation over the location of the tower “appears to have been broken”.
The “easy option” was commercial land in the town.
“Residents were disappointed that Connexa, when undertaking their analysis of the additional 11 sites, failed to communicate to residents that a cell tower was back on the cards. Instead, the community were surprised with Connexa’s completed analysis in late January 2024 (during the school holidays), with advice that a tower would be erected in two weeks’ time,” the statement read.
“We became aware on January 25 that the Waipā District Council had known since December of Connexa’s plans to proceed with erecting the 5G cell tower…”
Here we go again – residents in Pirongia meet to discuss the proposed site of the new cell tower. Photo: Nick Empson
It said Connexa had declined to meet the community and seemed prepared to communicate by phone or email. The News has sought a response from Connexa. When the announcement was made last month, The News asked if the community was on board, but its response did not address that issue other than to say there was a need for improved Spark services in Pirongia and the community has complained about poor service.
Following the announcement, there were varied responses from the community – some opposing the tower completely, others welcoming the plans to improve services – but most just wanting the tower erected way from the homes and a school.
“Pirongia residents had sought to fully engage with Connexa and work collaboratively towards a mutually agreeable and suitable location for the tower,” the action group statement reported.
“Yet the community’s concerns raised with respect to the placing of the tower in a residential area, as close as 50m to some houses, within 100m of the school, and close proximity to the local daycare, have been dismissed, with the response from Connexa that the tower will nonetheless go ahead in two weeks’ time.”
See: Pirongia will get its tower
See: Tower a done deal?
