References
- Saanich Tower Administration Policy: the council must make all decisions on services being attached to a tower or a new tower, and this tower is a new tower with a 220% increase in capacity and can not be considered a replacement. It also appears new services are to be attached.
- Saanich Frequently Asked Question Sheet
- Tower Geotechnical Report Nov 2017
- Saanich RFQ Addendum number 3 Response to Questions and Increase in capacity
- Saanich RFQ Addendum number 2 Response to Questions
- Saanich RFQ Addendum number 2 existing duct bank dimensions side view of conduit
- Saanich RFQ Addendum number 2 Equipment Shelter Mount Douglas building diagram
- Saanich RFP PKOLS Mount Douglas Communication Tower
- Saanich RFP Annex 2 PKOLS Mount Douglas Park Tower Drawing.
- Saanich RFP Appendix A CCDC 14 Form of Agreement Supplementary General Conditions
- Saanich FRP Annex 1 Structural Analysis Report
- Saanich RFP Addendum number 1 PKOLS Mount Douglas Communications Tower Extension of Deadline
- Saanich Information Meeting April 4th , 2024 This document was provided at the presentation meeting, this was not a meeting in which Saanich consulted with interested parties but it was purely an announcement.
- What is 5G and Frequency Bands
- What are the Cellular Frequencies
History of Communication on top of PKOLS-Mount Douglas
Fighter Control Network
In 1942, the RCAF established a direction-finding service on top of Mount Douglas (PKOLS – Mount Douglas) as part of the fighter control network that directed fighter aircraft in case of Japanese attack. It was part of a complex network of stations. The only remaining evidence of this installation is the viewing platform at the top of the mountain.
A complete history of this installation can be found here.
Radio Telephone Facility
The next communication system to be placed on PKOLS – Mount Douglas was a VHF Radio Telephone. The base for this system is still found on the mount.
Understanding the Funding Around the Tower
It is essential to understand that when the initial tower was built, Saanich, in cooperation with our society, made sure the revenue not only funded the building and its maintenance but also used the profit to enhance the park. This is why there is an agreement between our society and Saanich to consult on new plans for the park, including the installation of the new tower. The money was primarily used to acquire additional land in the park. In other words, the funds generated by the profit enhance the park’s infrastructure. This would include, if necessary, monies to ensure the telecommunication structure had a minimal impact on the park. This is why the transmission building was buried at the end of the parking lot rather than being a large concrete box on the top of the East summit.
When was the First Tower Installed?
In 1991, Saanich and our society made many trips to the top of Mount Douglas to look at where to build a new cellular transmission building near an existing tower. This is the current tower that stands on the Eastern summit, and the transmission building is underneath the viewing platform across from the parking lot.
At this time, Saanich spent some time making sure the new tower was less intrusive by burying the transmission building and the power lines and removing the existing power pools. Construction on this new facility was begun in February of 1992.
It is essential to understand that all this work to install the tower and transmission building and to make it less intrusive is funded by the revenue from the tower users, not Saanich. It also provides a fund to purchase more park property or other park enhancements (not maintenance).
