TELSTRA has shelved plans for a residents' survey on its controversial antenna at Balgowlah Heights and is now scouting for alternative sites.

The move follows a two-month community campaign that included one resident chaining himself to a pole on New St West where the telco wanted to install the antenna.

Telstra had announced in January it would conduct a poll on whether residents wanted the antenna there.

It had vowed to obey resident's wishes.

But Telstra area general manager Andrew Bogg said yesterday a working party would now be set up to look at alternative sites.

The group would include representatives of Manly MP Mike Baird, Manly Council, Balgowlah Precinct Community Forum and Balgowlah Committee Against Telstra's Tower (formerly Committee Against the Base Station).

"This will give the community further opportunity to come back with other sites that we may not have been aware of," Mr Bogg said.

Telstra has not ruled out the site at New St West but Mr Bogg said if no alternative could be found it would then carry out the survey, as promised.

If the poll was negative he said the telco might not be able to provide extra mobile coverage in the area.

Balgowlah Heights resident Richard Waddington, who chained himself to the pole in protest in January, said he was encouraged by the decision to look for other options but would remain vigilant.

"They can't just move the problem elsewhere and the community has overwhelmingly said they put concerns over their health above mobile reception," he said.

Mr Waddington, a Balgowlah Committee Against Telstra's Tower member, has been invited to join the working group. But he said he thought that the committee should have three representatives and be able to chose who they would be.