Balgowlah Boys: Safety fears over mobile phone tower at school sparks battle of the parents
Parents at a northern beaches school will be surveyed to see if they want a mobile phone tower removed, after safety fears were raised.
Manly
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A battle is brewing between parents divided over whether a mobile phone tower at a northern beaches school should be removed.
Those against it fear electromagnetic radiation emitting from the tower at Balgowlah Boys could damage their children’s brains or cause cancer.
The Manly Daily understands the issue has sparked heated moments during P&C meetings.
It’s alleged parents on the other side of the debate have criticised those voicing concerns as not listening to the science and believing “fake news”.
Telcos often point to the advice from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) — a government body — which says electromagnetic energy levels are closely regulated to ensure they are safe and mobile phone towers pose no risk.
Balgowlah Boys school principal Paul Sheather has agreed to investigate and conduct a parent survey to try and settle the issue.
But if parents do vote for the phone tower to go, a new site will have to be found as it currently provides phone and wireless reception for most of Balgowlah Heights.
The school may also have to pay back thousands of dollars to the telcos who are leasing the land and have paid in advance.
One parent said in an ideal world they wouldn’t have a tower on the site, but there was one and if it was removed there was no guarantee it wouldn’t be relocated on the other side of the fence, leaving them in the same position without the much-needed money.
However, another Jacqui McPherson, of Fairlight, who was on the mobile phone sub-committee formed to research the risks and report back to the P&C, said she can’t understand why any parent would support a tower on school grounds.
“The Department of Education’s policy is of prudent avoidance in relation to the installation of mobile phone towers on school grounds and recommends a minimum distance of 500 metres,” she said.
“The tower at Balgowlah Boys is in the middle of the school.
“The Department of Education, the school, principal and parents owe a duty of care to students at the school. That’s why the parents are speaking up.
“We don’t want to wait for the statistics to show the electromagnetic radiation from the tower has caused cancers or any other long term health impacts on the school community. The policy is there for a reason.”
Another mum Amy Down, of North Manly, added that all the parents are “asking is that the school works with the government to ensure that the precautionary approach recommended by the Department of Education is applied at Balgowlah Boys and that students there are treated the same way they would be anywhere else in this state.”
She added the situation needs to be urgently reviewed in light of any future 5G upgrades and any possible increase in radiation from the tower where children are concentrated for seven hours a day.
It is believed the tower was approved and constructed at Balgowlah Boys in Maretimo St sometime in the 1990s in a deal between the State Government and the telco company.
The Department of Education now advises prudent avoidance.
Mark Sablatnig, president of the P & C Balgowlah Boys, said the committee was aware that some parents were concerned about the tower being on school grounds.
“The P & C is currently investigating these concerns and is in the process of gathering all the available information on this issue and are consulting the school community,” he said.
“Once we have gathered enough information and got feedback from the school community the P & C will decide on the appropriate action, if any, to take.”
Mr Sheather added that the school was sourcing data on radiation testing and contract conditions before putting the information to parents.
Ms McPherson said some parents were so frustrated with the P&C they had independently sought the help of Manly MP James Griffin.
Mr Griffin confirmed he had written to the Education Minister on their behalf to get an update on the tower.
“The contract for the tower was signed some years ago and has a long way to run,” he said.
“The state has an existing policy in place for new towers that they should be located away from schools where possible.
“However, given this tower has been there for many years I’ve asked the department for their plans for the future of the tower to assist parents in understanding the possible next steps.”