A report commissioned by the NSW Planning Department has contradicted earlier studies about the effect of radiation from Sydney’s Homebush Bay AM transmission towers, claiming that it is safe to build near the towers.

Commenting on report, one radio source remarked “they would say that wouldn’t they,” a comment which seems to reflect the feeling of many radio people in Sydney.

The new report, by Rad-haz, found that radiation readings inside the half completed apartment blocks “did not exceed health limits.”

According to the NSW Planning Department “Greater Homebush is of strategic importance to Sydney because of its:

· central location in the metropolitan area

· accessibility via major roads (Parramatta Road, M4, Homebush Bay Drive/M3) and the rail network (access to Western, Northern, South and Inner West lines)

· significant investment in public transport infrastructure

· investment in superior sporting and recreational facilities at Sydney Olympic Park and the parklands of Millennium Park and Bicentennial Park

· strong economic growth in Parramatta CBD, Silverwater and Rydalmere industrial areas, Flemington markets, Carter St and Rhodes Peninsula

· extensive industrial and residential redevelopment potential.”

State and local government authorities have been taking advantage of the “redevelopment potential” to allow 20 storey residential apartment blocks to be built within a kilometre of the transmission sites.

Construction work on the building site stopped in April after workers complained of receiving shocks which they believed came from the towers. A subsequent report by consultants EMC warned of “serious interference and possible health risks” in buildings so close to the towers.

The Rad-haz report says that the earlier EMC study’s methodology was flawed.

Commercial Radio Australia is still studying the report and expects to have further talks with the state government regarding options such as relocating the transmitters and/or shielding the buildings from interference.