[Waverley ARS] [SPAM] Re: Local Council approval required for base antennas in NSW ?

[Colin Marks]

Mathias
I have read the useful comments from Anthony and your own
enquiries.
This is a pretty obscure legal area. I don't think you will find any
legislation or regulations dealing specifically with antennas and
particularly radio antennas.
But they have always been regarded as falling within the very general
provisions of the NSW Local  Government Act 1993 which require building 
approval
for any building or structure or associated works. These have been very
broadly defined and if taken literally would cover just about any fixed base
antenna.
 I believe the only specific provision is in "guidelines" issued by Councils
and which vary from Council to Council These "guidelines" have no real legal
status but, if observed by an antenna erector, would probably mean that as a
matter of policy , the Council would take no action. The guidelines describe
which antennas the Council considers need specific Council approval and
which do not.
Here in Woollahra, I think the guidelines allow without further approval t/v
antennas subjects to certain size and height limitations. However I don't
think a Council can distinguish between different uses - eg t/v or radio! I
think also there are general height limitations applying to all antennas.
How these limits are applied to vertical antennas I don't know and I think
it is very likely the Council doesn't know either.....
Here in Woollahra I believe they may also need  not only building approval
but also development approval which can be a costly nightmare!
I know a ham who lived in a home unit in Woollahra and went through all
this for a mere multi-band vertical. I can give you his name if you wish.
The moral of all this - keep on good terms with your neighbours and KEEP
AWAY FROM THE COUNCIL (I realise may not be possible in your case).
I had a large external dipole for about 15 years at my last home unit
QTH and had no problems. (I was the Chairman of the Body Corporate - 36
units....) (Bob VK2SOB also lives in a large Unit building and has a LARGE 
multi-band vertical on the roof - he is also Chairman of the now "Owners 
Corporation"....)
Finally if you simply erect a dipole or vertical of one kind or another you 
might be
lucky enough to get a letter from your local Council saying you don't need
approval. The masts are likely to be the focus of Council's attention.  Just 
say a wire or thin vertical tubing radio antenna with sketch showing 
position supports etc.
and keep it low key and simple and no need to mention ham radio.
I doubt this rigmarole is much help but it's the best I can do....
Good luck!

73         Colin         VK2LV

(BTW - if you want to just talk to someone at Woollahra Council ask for
Barbara Adams)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mathias Burbach" <Mathias.Burbach at bigfoot.com>
To: "Anthony Goodridge" <agoodridge at bigpond.com>; <Members at us.cactii.net>
Sent: Friday, November 03, 2006 2:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Waverley ARS] [SPAM] Re: Local Council approval required for
base antennas in NSW ?


> Hello Anthony,
>
> Thanks for your reply.
>
> Anthony wrote:
>> You need to check on your local Council Guidelines, check the
>> Development control plan and the local environmental plan for waverley
>> council, or the area you are in.
> I have found those two sections on the web site of the Randwick City
> Council.
>
> The Development Control Plans are listed here:
> http://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/default.php?id=361
>
> I checked the entry for "Multi-Unit Housing" and found some rules and
> regulations regarding "Television/Radio Antennae and Satellite Dishes":
> <Quote>
> 6.3.4 DCP Controls
> Performance Requirements
> P2 Television/Radio Antennae and Satellite Dishes - Provision is made
> for a single common television/radio antenna and other types of
> communication reception devices to service all dwellings in a development.
> </Quote>
> Other "Adopted Development Control Plans" seemed even more off-topic.
>
> The Randwick Local Environmental Plan with its amendments is listed here:
> http://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/default.php?id=362
>
> Looking through the table of contents of the Randwick LEP I can't find
> any hint regarding rules that would be applicable to amateur antennas.
> Also a search through the text of "Randwick Local Environmental Plan
> 1998" for the keyword "antenna" did not produce any hit-list.
>
> Now is that sufficient proof that Randwick City Council doesn't have any
> particular rules for radio amateur antennas? I have the strange feeling
> that I might have overseen something. :-[
>
> Salut,
>  Mathias
>
>
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