Thompson-Nicola Regional District board of directors has passed a resolution in support of an application by Telus to the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations to collocate a cellular tower, building and equipment on the TNRD's Vavenby television rebroadcasting repeater site property.
"I actually brokered the deal," said Tim Pennell, director for Wells Gray Country (Area A)."It was just a chance conversation with the right guy. I met a Telus rep last June during the North Kamloops Library opening. We've been trying to get cellphone service for years and I told him we had the site with power connected and gazetted with B.C. Lands. He liked the idea."
The resolution was passed during a board meeting held Thursday, April 14 in Kamloops. It follows on a recommendation made in March to Industry Canada that it waive the public input process before approving a Telus application to construct the tower near Vavenby, as well as other towers planned for the North Thompson Valley near Wire Cache and Blue River.
Normally the only that portion of the public that lives or owns property within 180 meters of a proposed tower or three times the height of the tower need be consulted - conditions that do not apply to any of the three Valley sites.
The proposed Vavenby cell tower would be located next to the regional district's existing television rebroadcasting facility.
The site is approximately 0.6 hectares in size and has equipment shelter buildings, three towers and a satellite dish are situated on it.
Because the TNRD has tenure to the site, Telus must make an application to the Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations (the Ministry) for provincial approval to collocate on it.
Telus has provided staff with site drawings and maps of where they intend to locate its own self-supporting tower and foundation, equipment shelter and standby generator on the site.
The telephone company plans to use the TNRD's existing power line that serves the site, and if required, Telus is prepared to upgrade the power line to handle their loads. The TNRD's technician who maintains the repeater site has advised that the new tower and equipment etc. will not interfere with the existing TNRD tower system or rebroadcasting signals.