Rogers Communications is proposing a 131-foot tower on a conservation site near Puslinch Lake in Ontario, Canada. Some connectivity in an underserved recreational area is a good thing, right? Well, pilots of seaplanes, who use the lake to “stop for a rest” and to refuel are not pleased, reported The Record.
Lakeside resident and pilot Ron Harper commented, “The location of this tower is so close to the edge of that lake that most certainly, planes are going to have a conflict with it. They’re going to be flying over it or worse, into it.” Additionally, Harper went before the Puslinch council to oppose the tower, representing 20 neighbors.
Because there is a need to improve cell service, a Rogers spokesperson noted, “We will continue to work with local officials in order to accommodate community concerns, while providing much-needed wireless services to area residents.”
However, since the lake is not a certified airport for seaplanes and is unprotected by airport zoning, Transport Canada had a different take on the matter. “It is the pilot’s responsibility to be aware of obstacles and ensure they are able to take off and land safely,” the agency said in a statement.
In Canada, the federal government regulates telecommunication towers, which fall outside local regulations, so they have the ultimate decision on this tower project. “In the end, local municipalities have very little impact on whether a tower will go in a location or not,” Mayor Dennis Lever said.
December 11, 2017
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