Prince George, BC – Area residents will have another opportunity to provide their thoughts on a proposed gold mine southwest of Prince George directly to the developer.

New Gold Inc. is hosting a second series of open houses across the region this coming week.  The Blackwater project, approximately 160-kilometres southwest of Prince George, is in the advanced exploration stage.  New Gold Director of Environment and Sustainability, Tim Bekhuys, says close to 200 people came out to last fall’s open houses.

"They were particularly interested in jobs and other contracting opportunities for the area," he says.  "It was really a chance for some of the communities who really didn’t know a lot about New Gold to get to know us a bit better."

"Since then, in the beginning of this year, we’ve started a feasibility study – so we’ve taken some of those comments that we’ve received and we’ve started to actually build them into the design process as we head towards construction in 2015."

These open houses aren’t mandated by the joint federal-provincial environmental review process underway – those sessions are expected to be held mid-summer.  Bekhuys says this is New Gold’s efforts to engage the local community and address any concerns at the outset.  "We’ve spent a lot of time talking to landowners in the region and have been adjusting our plans to address some of the concerns we’ve heard."  Several environmental and engineering studies are underway, including one this past winter that looked at fish wintering habits.  And, he says, the design plans have been adjusted accordingly.  There will be no tailings in any lakes.  Proposed facilities will be moved to the upper end of the watershed to avoid sensitive fish habitat.

"And that’s part of our goal: is to have first and foremost, to have a really good design, so that it’s environmentally sensitive," says the company spokesperson.  "Secondly, we want to make sure that we’re working really closely with the Aboriginal peoples of the area."  Bekhuys says of the 400 people at work on the exploration last year, approximately 25-percent were from Aboriginal communities in the region.  Another key ‘duck’ New Gold is lining in a row – measurable benefits to local communities like Vanderhoof and Fraser Lake.  "Of the $130-million, approximately, we spent last year, about 70- to 80-percent of that was spent in the region."

While the company operates mines in Australia, Mexico, and Southern California, its New Afton gold, silver, and copper mine near Kamloops just started into full production earlier this year.  That mine employs approximately 600 people.  Bekhuys is optimistic construction will begin on the Blackwater project in two year’s time.  "We’re confident we can hit the timelines – we know we have to listen to people along the way, but right now, everything looks good."

The schedule for this week’s open houses, slated to run between 5pm and 7:30pm, is as follows:

May 6 – Vanderhoof
Friendship Centre. 219 Victoria Street E.

May 7 – Fraser Lake
CH Foote Memorial Arena, 30 Carrier Crescent

May 8 – Burns Lake
Burns Lake Legion, 158 Francois Lake Drive

May 9 – Quesnel
Shiraoi House, 690 Gray Ave

May 13 – Fort St. James
Music Makers Hall, 255 Second Ave. West

May 14 – Prince George
Ramada Hotel, 444 George Street