In response to public concerns over increased mining activity and online claims staking, the Sunshine Coast Regional District is taking a closer look at B.C.'s mining regulations. At the SCRD's planning meeting May 12, directors discussed the May 9 public meeting on mining claims held in Halfmoon Bay.
John Rees, director for Pender Harbour, was sharply critical of how that meeting was publicized.
"This was done by the Green Party dreamed up by uninformed and reactionary people for political gain," said Rees. "To suggest to property owners their property is at risk is irresponsible."
But Adrian Belshaw, director for Roberts Creek, said the risks of mining claims are not being overstated. "I know of people who had mines appear on their property. They had no say," said Belshaw.
And Sechelt Indian Band chief Stan Dixon thanked Green leader Adriane Carr for making people aware of the online mining claims. "What happened there was a rude awakening," said Dixon. Geologist Richard Munroe, who works for Pan Pacific Aggregates, repeated his assurances from the May 9 meeting that residential properties are not at risk.
"No, we're not going to dig up your house. No, we're not going to blow up your town," he said. "Give us a chance. We're three months into the process."
Munroe said his company was following the laws of B.C. when it staked 19,000 hectares of the Sechelt Peninsula in January using the new, online system.
"We want to be good community citizens and bring 50 to 100 long-term, well-paying jobs to your community," he said. "We didn't stake the moment [the online system] came out. We waited 24 hours to allow those with vested interest to stake, such as the Sechelt Indian Band."
Munroe said his company drew a "Maginot Line" through Sechelt and claimed only the lands north of that, because "it would have been an insult to claim band lands."
"We are now in control of the entire peninsula for a specific purpose: to keep others out," he said.
Lynne Bogardus, chair of the Halfmoon Bay Citizens' Association, said she is concerned less about the risk to residential properties than "about the kind of impact mining might have in the community of Halfmoon Bay and the whole Sunshine Coast."
"Halfmoon Bay is a treasured place. We would not want to see it turned into a port for freighters," she said. "I'm not sure people living near Construction Aggregates were aware, either, when that came up what it would become."
Celia Fisher, director for Elphinstone, agreed that the example of Con Ag should encourage the SCRD to be more pro-active on mining.
"With Con Ag we maybe missed an opportunity to put some safeguards in for the rest of the regional district," she said.
The SCRD board asked regional district staff to research and report on the potential impact of provincial mining regulations.
