A major city mining entrepreneur is adding his voice to those who say the proposed Ajax mine is too close to Kamloops, while others caution it鈥檚 too early judge the proposal.
Ed Collett, who owns international mining equipment supplier Intequip and opened the city鈥檚 first commercial vineyard, said an open-pit mine immediately beside a city of 85,000 is a poor location.
鈥淚 have to agree with Richard Boyce (Steelworkers mine local president), it鈥檚 way too close to the city,鈥� Collett said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 other ore deposits in B.C. We don鈥檛 have to destroy pristine areas that will never return.鈥�
Boyce, who heads the union representing workers at Highland Valley Copper, announced at a public meeting this week that he opposes plans by KGHM-Ajax to reopen and expand the historic Ajax pit immediately south of Kamloops.
But United Steelworkers District 3 released a statement later in the week saying it does not join with Boyce. The union urged patience on the mine review process.
鈥淎ny time a new mine is proposed, it undergoes a process of environmental review,鈥� the union said in a statement.聽 鈥淭hat process is currently underway with respect to the Ajax proposal.鈥�
Kamloops Chamber of Commerce president Bob Dieno said business is taking a wait-and-see attitude.
鈥淥ur position is if the environmental reviews come back positive, we鈥檒l support Ajax going in; it would be good for business,鈥� Dieno said. 鈥淚f they come back not in favour 鈥� we all live here, too.鈥�
Collett has spent 30 years in the business, starting as a tire supplier and expanding into mining equipment supply worldwide.
He estimated he鈥檚 toured more than 100 mine sites around the world. Collett also said mining practices have improved immeasurably in the past few decades.
But he said the threat to Jacko Lake, loss of grasslands, threat to air quality and permanent scarring of the city landscape can鈥檛 be understated.
Jutta Jealouse, a mining entrepreneur who sold her stake in a city assay lab but remains in the consulting business, said it鈥檚 too early for Collett, Boyce or others to have an opinion on Ajax.
She urged residents to wait for results of the environmental assessment process. The company has also stated many questions will be answered in its application to the provincial and federal governments.
鈥淭his area has been mined so long. I鈥檓 surprised there鈥檚 a reaction . . . . As a layman, you shouldn鈥檛 have an opinion yet,鈥� Jealouse said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why environmental standards are there.鈥�
But Collett said he knows enough about the proposal and isn鈥檛 fearful of pushback in the mining industry where he makes his living.
鈥淧eople have to understand what mining does for the globe. It鈥檚 a huge economic boost for any city. But people have to look at the pros and cons. Looking at those, I have to say 鈥榥o.鈥� 鈥�
Despite his feelings, Collett said he doesn鈥檛 feel the mine is a threat to Harper鈥檚 Trail winery, which he opened along with his wife Vicki, nor to tourism in Kamloops in general.
