Apryl Veld - Omineca Express
New Gold president Rober Gallagher and communications representative Timothy Bekhuys, outlined the Blackwater project at a presentation before Vanderhoof council in mid February.
Gallagher said their mine site is a very large land package, the portions of which they acquired from several companies including Richfield and also a 20 per cent share from Silverquest.
He noted their investment in the project will be around $130 million, and that they’re about three-and-a-half years from having their permits in place before they can start mining.
The New Gold president said they will soon be opening a communications office in Vanderhoof across from the A&W restaurant, and will soon welcome local contractors to get in on bidding for work to erect a 50-150 person camp including sewage, water treatment and incinerators.
He said they will also be building a high-speed communications receiver for the camp, and starting up a minerals lab.
Gallagher emphasized that New Gold intends to bring high environmental standards to their operations, including replacing culverts with more fish-friendly bridges and will bury their waste rock beneath their tailings, so it does not get broken down by the air gases that turn it into highly-polluting ‘acid rock’, as is the case with many mining operations throughout Canada and the world.
“We hope this will become New Gold’s flagship project,” Gallagher said.
He added that based on their studies, they estimate there’s an 18-year life to this mine near Vanderhoof.