Planning blunder threatens Sydney transmitters

An eight storey block of flats, approved for construction too close to five of Sydney’s main AM radio transmitters, could force the stations to consider moving their sites after more than 50 years.

The Payce development is within 200 metres of the 2UE and 2SM Homebush Bay towers and was approved by the state agency PlanningNSW.

No one is sure (or admitting) how the development blunder snuck through. The block of flats began construction just over a year ago, but planning for the area goes back to the Olympics. During the Olympics planning period the radio stations identified the issue of development close to their transmitters as an issue for careful consideration.

The Australian Communications Authority has warned the NSW State government and the developers that flats above the third floor risk electrical interference and radiation. Sales of flats above the third floor have been put on hold while the problem is further investigated.

If the stations are forced to move, it could cost millions of dollars. Alternative sites in the built-up city of Sydney are no longer easy to find. Environmental Impact Studies, which were not an issue 50 years ago, also make the possibility of finding an alternative location with a suitably moist earth mat very difficult these days.

Since the transmitters were built on the site, the city of Sydney has crowded in around them decreasing their coverage power, so there was always going to be a looming issue of a new site in the future, but that was expected to be many years away, until now. 2UE and 2SM lease the land on which their transmitters are sited, another reason for the stations to consider moving at some time in the future, but not immediately. 2KY owns its own site in the same area.

The move towards digital radio would also necessitate new transmitter towers being built, but that issue was also, until now, considered to be well in the future.