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Transmitter on the Move 12. Twentieth Century Suites
Transmitter on the Move
Roger Doyle relates the tricky and expensive process of relocating our main transmitter from Governor Phillip Tower to its new location in Artarmon. Team members actively engaged in the commercial negotiations and site transfer included: Mona Omar, Maureen and Keith Chaffey, David James, Rob Mitchell, John Shenstone, Max Benyon, John Xuereb and Rob Tregea.
After 25 years atop a high-rise in the CBD, our FM transmitter is now at Artarmon. While broadcasting from GPT served us well, relocation became necessary due to mounting costs, site access difficulties, upgrades and on-going maintenance due to an unforgiving environment. While relocating the transmitter and associated support equipment was in some ways the simplest part of the project, dismantling and removing the antenna and its 25-metre steel mast was a complex and expensive process, to be undertaken by specialists experienced in safe working at heights. Engaging a contractor followed careful technical and risk analysis and legal advice from our pro bono lawyers, Baker McKenzie.
Funding this complex initiative could only come about through the enormous generosity of our listener-base, the appeal raising the needed money to not only relocate the equipment, but undertake the dismantling, removal and disposal of the antenna and the mast. Finally, we are required to restore the site to its original state as required by Dexus, the owners of GPT. Our new transmission home is the Transmitters Australia (TXA) facility – just off the Pacific Highway at Artarmon. TXA is a dedicated television and radio broadcast centre accommodating both commercial and community stations providing FM and Digital services.
Maintaining uninterrupted FM broadcasting during the process came about following detailed planning and strategic and incremental relocation of the equipment. Along with our high-power main transmitter, foresight from key figures Max Benyon and Kit Scally provided for a small stand-by transmitter, usually deployed when maintenance requirements need the primary system to be shut down. With the main transmitter operating as usual, the stand-by was removed, relocated to Artarmon, and following extensive testing by John Shenstone, initial site-swapping commenced. GPT remained operational in case we needed to revert.
While GPT stands as an excellent transmission point, its environment was quite hostile to sensitive electronic equipment; extreme heat, humidity and corrosive pollution had taken its toll on the main transmitter. On transfer to Artarmon, our team carried out disassembly, essential cleaning and restoration.
All was well. After 25 years, the facility closed down in readiness for our contractors Powerfone Pty Ltd to take down the mast, dismantle and remove for disposal.
