Telus is making another attempt at establishing a tower structure in the Lund area to deliver improved wireless data and voice communication services.
In the November 20 Peak, Telus placed a classified display ad indicating that as part of the public consultation process required by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Telus Communications Inc. is inviting the public to comment on a proposed telecommunications facility, consisting of a 60-metre lattice tower structure and ancillary radio equipment in order to provide dependable wireless data and voice communication services to Lund.
The proposed tower location is at 9810 and 9840 Finn Bay Road in Lund.
qathet Regional District (qRD) board chair Patrick Brabazon, who also represents Lund in Electoral Area A, said the Telus process will play out with the public, with Telus seeking input from interested parties, and will also play out with the regional district, which owns the land on which Telus wants to situate the tower.
Brabazon said the regional district is in discussions with Telus and he is expecting a report.
“The board will get one from the planning department,” said Brabazon.
This is the second time Telus has examined the prospect of installing a tower in the Lund area. On October 8, 2019, qRD’s planning committee heard a presentation from Chad Marlatt, of Cypress Land Services, a consultant for Telus, regarding a proposed new wireless tower and antenna installation at 9561 Larson Bay Road in Lund village. Marlatt said a long-term agreement had been reached with the property owner prior to doing a consultation and proposal to the regional district.
“We’ve tried to blend it in as best as possible,” said Marlatt. “The tower is 35 metres in height. It will be about 10 metres above the top structures of the tree line. It’s integral to have the antennas above the tree line so they have as clear a sight line as possible.”
However, after the presentation, strong opposition in the community grew. A concerned citizens group formed in Lund to oppose the positioning of the planned Telus tower. Jason Lennox, chair of the concerned citizens committee, said while the residents were not opposed to the placement of a tower in the Lund area, the chosen location for the tower was not appropriate.
“In a nutshell, it’s about a small community, a village, having to basically gather, get organized and advocate for a reasonable solution because a large telecom, through its contractor, just won’t be bothered,” said Lennox.
At the November 28, 2019, regional board meeting, qRD directors were advised that Telus had pulled out. Brabazon, at the meeting, said Telus was to look at additional sites but decided to withdraw entirely.
“At the moment there is no proposal for a Telus pole to improve cell phone coverage and internet service in Lund,” said Brabazon. “In my research, I discovered there were at least three other sites on offer to Telus, one of which is in an industrial area. Probably, most of the objections that were lodged by some people would not be present in the new area.”
Brabazon said he was going to try and get Telus to go back and “do a proper job, surveying all of the available sites. I know of three and I’ll be there’s probably more out there that would do. I want good internet and cell phone coverage in as wide an area as we can possibly get.”
At the July 31, 2020, regional board meeting, Brabazon said he was continuing to pursue Telus with regard to the tower.
“I have informed people up in Lund that I am going to raise it again; I’m going back to Telus,” said Brabazon. “They can’t just ignore the fact that just because people didn’t want it in one location that they just can’t throw up their hands and walk away. It’s time to rattle their cage again.”
At the October 29, 2020, regional board meeting, Brabazon announced that Telus had returned to the Lund area. Brabazon said at the meeting that Telus representatives had a meeting and survey with the Lund water improvement district because they were considering placing the new tower on water improvement district land. However, when they arrived at the top of the mountain, Telus liked the other side of the boundary, which is the regional district property.
Brabazon said Telus has determined that the regional district land is the best site so discussions are happening.
Brabazon said he was very pleased that Telus has come back.
“We’ll just let developments proceed,” said Brabazon. “We will take all the time required because of the public interest. I expect that if it proceeds it will be a huge benefit to the Lund area.”
The public can provide input to Tawny Verigin, care of Cypress Land Services Inc., which is serving as agents for Telus. The phone number is 1.855.301.1520, and email is [email protected].
