54 | Mt Campbell Communications CONTRACTING T T Rosa Watson 70 years providing vital coverage Mt Campbell Communications — named after the landmark west of Motueka — has built a reputation for providing the best coverage of any network in the upper South Island. A need for vital land mobile coverage to assist search and rescue operations in the Nelson region 70 years ago led to the establishment of a local company that is still providing services today. Mt Campbell Communications — named after the landmark west of Motueka — has built a reputation for providing the best coverage of any network in the upper South Island, including the large cellular companies. Based in Nelson, it supplies services and installs mobile radio and related communications equipment across the region and beyond. It operates radio services from more than 20 sites throughout the Upper South Island and is continually improving its network to increase capacity and functionality to respond to the changing communication needs of our customers. Owner Lloyd Wensley says the company can help anyone who wants “press-to-talk” communication. “Our mantra is we make radio communication happen,” he says. Clients include emergency service providers, forestry, vineyards, construction, farming, taxis, transport, road and civil, security services and utility providers. In a recent project, the company was involved in upgrading Coastguard Nelson’s digital dispatch. Faced with unreliable analog radios and growing coverage needs across 10,400 square kilometres, Coastguard Nelson needed a system that would deliver a cutting-edge solution — which Mt Campbell Communications provided with the Omnicore Express Dispatch solution. “I am pleased we have been able to provide Nelson Coastguard with a state-of‑the‑art and future‑proof system that will greatly enhance their response capability both internally and with partner agencies,” Lloyd says. It managed the entire implementation, from system design to hands-on deployment and testing, providing a dispatch system that now supports up to five concurrent dispatch operators, 12 radio channels and remote access via tablet for fast, flexible response. Mt Campbell Communications was started by Lloyd’s father, Lou Wensley, in the 1970s. New Zealand Post, which provided land mobile coverage at the time, didn’t have the coverage to support the local search and rescue service. A repeater was built on Mt Campbell and from there the company grew. Lloyd was involved right from the early days as a schoolboy, helping build the repeater. He took over the running of the business in 1986. Today there are 10 full-time staff and four part-timers that work across technical, sales and administration. Staff are trained up and equipped to sell and service the latest mobile radio equipment. Ongoing training keeps the team up-to-date with the most modern technologies. The service workshop is equipped with the most modern servicing equipment so that problems can be diagnosed and rectified quickly. A separate company, Mount Campbell Networks Limited, owns one of the largest privately owned communications and broadcast facilities in the country that sits high up on Mount Campbell at an altitude of 1330 metres. The company took the leap this year in entering the annual Nelson Chamber of Commerce business awards, deciding it was time to put its name out there as a successful local business. “We thought we’d throw our hat in the ring,” Lloyd says. The awards recognise innovation and creativity in the business sector, with categories in small business, medium business, large business, young business leader, community impact and innovative leaders. Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on February 27 next year. “I am pleased we have been able to provide Nelson Coastguard with a stateof‑the‑art and future‑proof system…” HI-TECAERIALS AERIALS I FILTERING I MOUNTING CABLE AND CONNECTORS 03 384 3375 | hi-tec-aerials.co.nz AUTOCARE NELSON MAGS • TYRES • ALIGNMENT BATTERIES • LIFT KITS • BULLBARS 133 St Vincent Street, Nelson | 03 922 9494 sales@goodyearnelson.co.nz | goodyearnelson.co.nz
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