TimminsToday received the following letter to the editor from Coun. Rick Dubeau, regarding his decision to step down from the Hollinger Project Community Advisory Committee:
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This letter is to advise that I have resigned from the Hollinger Project Community Advisory Committee - HPCAC.
Whereas I support the Pit operations and what it brings to the City of Timmins. I am of the opinion that operations can and should be adjusted so as to provide less impact to the citizens living in close proximity to the pit and the haul road. By voicing concerns about noise, dust and vibrations that I and many residents experience, I thought that I could effect change.
Proof from Goldcorp’s online monitoring system and subsequent reports showed the adverse effects to be real but no real change came about.
Although Goldcorp has indicated that haul-truck operations have been optimized to lessen the noise, it has not resulted in a lessening of impact to residents.
The HPCAC’s mandate is to liaise with the community and, as such, questionnaires were hand delivered to homes closest to the Hollinger open pit and/or haul road.
As discussed at the HPCAC meeting which is open to the public.
It was found that of the 226 of respondents, well over 60 per cent were bothered by noise and dust while 56 per cent said they were bothered by the vibrations from blasting at the site.
Over half of the respondents provided more detailed comments on the impacts from the operation.
All 12 residents who responded from Vipond Road in Schumacher on the eastern boundary of the open pit said they were bothered by vibrations and noise from the mine and the haul road.
This area also reported the adverse effect of dust as well with 11/12 being affected.
Analysis of specific locations was done and, with respect to vibration, two areas seemed to be most affected. At Fairway Village, 30/35 of respondents indicated that their homes and/or contents shook from nearby blasting with seven of them feeling scared or anxious when blasting occurred.
In the area of Timmins on the western side of the pit, 20/29 reported shaking from blasting with nine of these individuals feeling scared or anxious because of it.
Several members of the committee suggested that the HPCAC host an open house to present the information from the survey to the public.
I stated that whereas Goldcorp had held many open houses before operations began, none have been held since operations began.
Goldcorp said they would consider this, I have not been advised of any planned open house or release of the information collected.
The amount of dust in people’s backyards and homes has risen dramatically since operations began.
This is true of those living closest to the pit and to the haul road which is situated just south of Schumacher.
Many residents have told us that they have to wash their, homes, windows and vehicles on a daily or weekly basis.
This is not only an inconvenience but a serious concern in regards to the health of the citizens.
Many residents have also told us that they are often wakened by the noise from the trucks leaving the pit and traveling on the haul road.
Many have resorted to sleeping with ear plugs and in their basements, this is not reasonable.
We know that Goldcorp is in regular contact with the Canadian Mine in Malartic which has also developed a mine in close proximity to the town.
They look at their best practices to lessen the impact on the citizens from operations. In response to complaints from the citizens, Canadian Malartic developed a Good Neighbour Guide.
The guide’s development stems from a collaborative approach launched with the community in the spring of 2015.
The guide sets out viable, real-life solutions for living together better.
It provides: Impact mitigation measures, financial compensation for all citizens of Malartic and Guidelines on the acquisition of properties available to all owners of a principal residence in the southern sector.
I provided Goldcorp with a copy of this guide as we have been told that all options to lessen adverse effects would be considered.
To date, there has been no further dialogue on the matter. Some citizens of Malartic have rejected the compensation package and filed a $40+ million class action lawsuit which was just authorized by Quebec Superior Court on May 5/17.
Many of us are being dramatically affected by the Hollinger project and are of the opinion that changes can and should be made. In addition to me, two others have also resigned from the HPCAC due to frustrations.
As HPCAC meetings are open to the public, we will continue to attend as citizens to keep voicing our concerns. We will be forming another citizens’ committee to operate independently of the HPCAC and Goldcorp in a further attempt to bring forth the concerns of the residents of Timmins.
More information will be provided soon.
Sincerely,
Rick Dubeau
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