An automated weather station that council approved for installation at the Smithers Regional Airport has nothing to do with Nav Canada, Mayor Cress Farrow said.
The request instead comes from the Ministry of Environment, who would like to set up an automated reference climatological station that seeks to track changes in our climate.
According to the MOE, this information is then collected, verified, and then made available to others who want to see the results.
“We’ve been collecting data at the airport for over 30 years now, so it’s really interesting to have this facility built, and it’s going to be more automated to give us more accurate weather pictures,” Farrow said.
It’ll also take away the onus of having people head out, sometimes in inclement weather, to do it manually.
Smithers is one of 300 sites chosen across Canada to implement the program, and according to town staff the proposed site will not interfere with future development.
Council unanimously approved the request to move forward. There is no financial implications for the town, other than revenues from the lease of the 30 metre by 30 metre section of land, still being discussed between the town and the MOE.