Most of you will have heard about the new Ajax mining development under consideration. Below is a post from local resident Judith Naylor, which generated several comments. Please click on comments to read them and add your own.
This mine is proposed for Copper mining, is about 2500 hectares,(9.5sq miles). About 1/2 of the proposed mine is within the present City limits. The distance from Aberdeen is about 1.5km. Propose to mine 24/7, 60,000tonnes a day. Huge water needed & will come from Peterson Creek, and Kamloops. Vast destruction planned.
Do you agree? Feel free to send in your comments and join the discussion.
I am no expert, but at the presentation I attended, Ajax rep Jim Whittaker stated that the water would come from Kamloops Lake. Here’s a report on the project: http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/epic/documents/p362/d33159/1305833178866_a48fc8f4df4054ca4e6e5f9a02e8136f1ff3b64efcfe6fb84e4176438f0b83c4.pdf and here’s the provincial website with lots more details: http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/epic/html/deploy/epic_project_home_362.html
Gisela’s link did not work
here is a link to a 172 page technical report
http://www.amemining.com/i/pdf/2009-08-05_AjaxPATechnicalReport.pdf
I was on the mine Tour. The water will not come from Peterson Creek, which is mostly dry during the summer, the water will come from an existing water source from Kamloops lake. There will not be Mass Destruction this is an existing mine site which will be enlarged.
TEN is happy to provide a forum for open discussion on this topic. Here’s a post from another reader, Muriel Miller:
I am a resident of Aberdeen subdivision in Kamloops, B.C. and have been so for 23 years.
My husband Kelly and I are adamantly opposed to the building and production of Ajax Mine in Kamloops.
It appalls me to think that money and big business may come before the impact this will have on our community. There is much talk even by our local MLA that this will bring economic wealth to Kamloops in the form of 400 jobs. What about the jobs that will go elsewhere at our expense? I would venture to say that none of those people will be living in the Aberdeen, Knutsford, Pine Valley and areas surrounding the proposed mine. Those in our outlying areas who have chosen to live there for peace and tranquility will have lost what they so treasure. I believe that the cost to the people of Kamloops will be far greater than the advantages and our quality of life will suffer.
Some of the negative impacts to our area and environment are as follows:
– The removal of precious water from the North and South Thompson Rivers to operate this mine.
– The displacement of Peterson Creek and disruption of our grasslands.
– Constant and very bright lights as the mine will operate 24/7.
– Noise and vibration from the constant moving of heavy gigantic machinery.
– Vibration and dust from blasting.
– Constant dust from the moving of heavy equipment and ore.
– The added noise of traffic on the old Merritt highway as more vehicles go up and down it. (We already here more noise due to the removal of pine beetle kill trees and the expansion of Aberdeen.)
How can Jacko Lake and the fish stocks not be affected permanently when the pit will be within feet of it?
I do not doubt that the value of our homes in Aberdeen will go down as the effects of the proximity to this mine are felt. These are only a few of the concerns and it sickens me to think of what our beautiful neighbourhood could become. I hope that those opposed even if not affected by this event will speak out.
Muriel Miller
(Aberdeen) Kamloops