The city is hoping to develop land in Upper Aberdeen that's near the mine site (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

AJAX PROJECT

Deputy mayor says potential for Ajax could stall city development in Aberdeen area

Sep 25, 2019 | 2:14 PM

KAMLOOPS — A day after Abacus, the Vancouver-based mining company that has 20 per cent share in the Ajax project, announced the copper-gold mining project remains a priority, the deputy mayor says it may end up delaying some city planning near the mine site.

Denis Walsh says since the mine was rejected by the provincial and federal governments in December 2017, the city and council has been moving forward with plans to develop the Upper Aberdeen area that is close to the mine.

However, Abacus’ announcement on Tuesday has the city wondering about potential impacts on the Kam Plan and future development in the Southwest sector.

“I think it’s really unfortunate because we all know it really divided the community to start with. But it also really affects our planning in the city. We have 43 per cent of our growth planning up in the Aberdeen area, which would be near any mine,” said Walsh. “Now we have to come back and say whether we should be aggressively expanding into that area, given that we have this cloud over our heads again that they may end up going for a review.”

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The Aberdeen Highlands Development Corporation has said it’s looking at building 2,600 units and another potential 2,500 units if some land in the area is removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve.

Walsh says he was shocked when he heard plans to revive the Ajax project so soon. He expected it to be re-launched five years after its rejection in 2017. He’s not sure how any new proposal would look.

“City council voted against it, the provincial government ruled against it, the feds ruled against it,” he said. “I don’t know what they’re going to do now they’re going to re-introduce it in a more positive note. It’s the first urban mine in B.C. and it has obviously potential health effects and air quality. It’s too close. Too big, too close, as we always said in the past.”

CFJC Today reached out to Abacus with no response.