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National environmental standards for telecommunications facilities
The national environmental standards for telecommunications facilities came into force on 9 October 2008.
In essence, the standards say:
- An activity (such as a mobile phone transmitter) that emits radio-frequency fields is a permitted activity provided it complies with the existing New Zealand Standard (NZS2772.1:1999 Radio-frequency Fields Part 1: Maximum Exposure Levels 3kHz-300GHz).
- The installation of telecommunications equipment cabinets along roads or in the road reserve is a permitted activity, subject to specified limitations on their size and location.
- Noise from telecommunications equipment cabinets located alongside roads or in the road reserve is a permitted activity, subject to specified noise limits.
- The installation of masts and antennas on existing structures alongside roads or in the road reserve is a permitted activity, subject to specified limitations to height and size.
The national environmental standards are regulations made under the Resource Management Act 1991. Activities that do not qualify as permitted activities under the regulations will continue to be managed by local councils through the existing rules in their district plans under the Resource Management Act 1991.
The regulations will substitute existing district plan rules that address the same subject material. A plan change is not required to substitute that part of a district plan affected by the regulations.
The Ministry for the Environment is running a series of workshops to help councils and the telecommunications industry understand and implement the new regulations. A user’s guide is also being developed and will be available shortly.
Background to the standards
- The regulations were developed to provide for a nationally consistent planning framework for radiofrequency fields of all telecommunication facilities and low impact telecommunications infrastructure on road reserves to:
- assist in network and equipment design and equipment sourcing for roll outs,
- create a reduction in compliance costs and timeframes for service providers
- reduce the timeframe and lower costs for the availability of new services to consumers
- contribute to a reduced workload to councils in processing and determining consent applications
- set an appropriate balance between local participation in community planning and cost effective national infrastructure investment.
In July 2005 the Government approved national policy statements and national environmental standards for telecommunications infrastructure to be scoped using an industry-led approach.
An industry reference group was convened with representatives from Telecom, Vodafone and TelstraClear, Local Government New Zealand, the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Economic Development.
After considering several options for national instruments under the Resource Management Act, the industry reference group proposed a package of national environmental standards for radiofrequency exposure and specific telecommunications facilities.
The industry reference group presented its report to the Ministry for the Environment (copies of the industry reference group’s report are available on request from: standards@mfe.govt.nz). The Ministry for the Environment then led the process for further developing the standards.
The discussion document, “Proposed National Environmental Standards for Telecommunications Facilities”, was released for public consultation 16 June 2007. Consultation ran for eight weeks until 10 August 2007.
A series of workshops were run in conjunction with the launch of the discussion document. These workshops provided the opportunity for proposals in the document to be discussed with Ministry staff.
In total, 82 submissions were received from local and central government, industry, community groups and individuals.
A report on submissions is available. The report provides a summary of the responses received during the consultation and outlines the main issues raised by respondents.
Several key changes to the standard were made based on consideration of submissions. These included:
- Strengthen links to district plan provisions where specific values such as amenity have been identified as a local issue.
- Reducing the potential for street clutter through increased minimum separation distances between cabinets
- Aligning the noise standards with the new Standards New Zealand standard.
- Future proofing the standards by not specifying specific types of panel antennas and including allowances for dish antennas.
- Limiting extensions to roadside structures to one extension only - to prevent incremental height creep.
Cabinet paper – Policy Background
In February 2008, Cabinet decided the National Environmental Standards for Telecommunications Facilities should proceed and that regulations should be drafted to give effect to the standards. For detail on the policy background for the national environmental standard, refer to the Cabinet Paper: Proposed National Environmental Standard for Telecommunications Facilities, or download the PDF (259 KB)
The Cabinet paper was accompanied by a regulatory impact statement, which is a short document setting out the costs and benefits of the policy: Regulatory impact statement: National environmental standard for telecommunications facilities, or download the PDF (9 KB)
Section 32 report
The section 32 report evaluated the efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of the national environmental standard. This is a requirement under the Resource Management Act 1991 when developing a regulation, including a national environmental standard.
The report also includes a response to public submissions
See Questions and answers –national environmental standards for telecommunications facilities for more information.
If you would like more information about standards for telecommunications please contact standards@mfe.govt.nz.
