Pan Pacific Aggregates' project manager says the mining company's exploration activities last year were "ill-conceived" and done by "amateurs."
Cal Mark specifically condemned the rock crushing and use of a weigh scale at the mine site near Mason and Heritage roads above Sechelt Inlet last spring and summer. "The people who were involved, quite frankly, were amateurs," Mark told the crowd of 150 people at a public hearing Wednesday for a temporary industrial use permit at the same site, which the company is applying for from the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD).
Michael Maser pointed out from the audience that Mark was working for the company last summer during this period of "amateur" work. He urged the regional district to pass the information on to the Ministry of Mines about the "amateurs" working for the company. He questioned why people should now believe the company and its employees are ethical and credible.
Mark responded, "You'll have to wait and see."
Mark said the crushing work started before he began working and was stopped shortly after. Since then, there have been personnel changes and a major change in the company's approach to its work, Mark added.
"It happened and you were there," said Jan Williams, a nearby resident to the site.
"Our operations, what we're proposing this year, would be scaled down from last year," Mark said.
Williams pointed out that last year, contrary to the company's assurances, there was noise and dust, and now the company wants permission to resume work on the site.
"We hear everything that goes on there," Williams said. "You can't mitigate that."
Dale Jackson pointed out that Pan Pacific was applying for the temporary permit because the SCRD board had decided to sue them for their activities last year.
"It's only through legal action that we are here today," Jackson said. She also asked why Pan Pacific's directors were not at the meeting.
"If there's no one with authority here, we're wasting our time," she said. She asked if the company would reimburse the SCRD for the costs of the legal action. Mark said no, but later acknowledged he was at the meeting to speak about the project and couldn't comment on finances of the company.
One woman in the crowd called Mark a "sacrificial lamb" for standing in front of the crowd without back-up from the company's senior executives.
Mark said one director was on holidays and another was in London.
The question came up about what Pan Pacific's back-up plan would be if the SCRD did not approve the temporary industrial permit.
"We will fall back on the Mines Act," Mark said.
The crowd repeatedly advised the SCRD through its planning staff present to reject the application for reasons including protecting the Agricultural Land Reserve and because the mine is not welcome in the community.
Mark said the entire mining project would employ 150 workers for 25 years. He said he's been getting substantial feedback from people in the community who are in favour of the mine.
"Where are they?" the crowd shouted.
