Blasting at New Afton not to blame for shaking up the neighbourhood, TNRD told

NEWS — TNRD director Ronaye Elliott is satisfied with the answers provided today by New Gold on concerns from Cherry Creek residents that blasting at the New Afton underground mine might be shaking up the neighbourhood.

Elliott raised the issue at the last regional board meeting two weeks ago when she said she’d heard from a handful of residents who said they’d experienced coffee cups rattling and a foundation cracking.

She said then that the complaints had started only since blasting had started at the New Afton site.

But New Gold representatives told the board today the mine has investigated all complaints and it’s unlikely vibrations from the mine would be damaging or shaking homes.

“We do know what we’re doing down there,” said mine general manager Kurt Keskimaki. “We’re not just a bunch of guys with explosives.”

Scott Davidson, New Gold’s environment and social responsibility manager, said vibrations from blasting are carefully monitored but that the “block caving” method — in which deposits are excavated underneath and allowed to cave in from their own weight — actually used very little explosive in comparison to open-pit operations.

He said three complaints were received about vibration and potential property damage from residents near the New Afton mine in the last two years.

Vibration monitoring was conducted last year at a residence about 2.5 km. from the underground workings and did not show any blast-related vibration despite there being 22 large blasts during that time.

An independent geotechnical inspection concluded there were no findings related to activities at New Afton. The concern about foundation cracks involved an old foundation that was probably affected by settling, said Davidson.

He also noted that heavy equipment working near the homes could have created vibrations that would be felt.

Asked about possible effects on ground water, Davidson said monitoring “makes it highly unlikely that any damage to groundwater wells would occur as a result of blasting activities on the site.”

No Cherry Creek residents attended the meeting, but New Gold is inviting them to a meeting at the mine offices next week to discuss the concerns.

“We want to make sure we’re good corporate citizens and investigate any complaints fully,” said Davidson.

After the meeting, Elliott said she was satisfied with the explanations from New Gold. “The response I got from New Gold was incredible,” she said.

“The people of Cherry Creek are asking the question. Now they have their answers.

“I brought it to the board to have a look at it. I was more than satisfied.”