Summerland calls on mining firm to explain work in watershed

Photo: District of Summerland

Summerland councillors, on both sides of the debate, invoked the ghost of Brenda Mines, when faced this week with how to address ongoing mineral exploration in their community watershed. 

Summerland council voted Tuesday to send a letter of concern to the provincial Inspector of Mines over drilling underway northwest of Eneas Lakes Provincial Park. A separate letter will be sent to the company behind the work — Troubadour Resources — requesting they come before council to explain the project.

District staff had recommended council send a letter of objection, like the municipality did when the work first surfaced in 2018, but this time around councillors decided they wanted to hear from the company first. 

Coun. Richard Barkwill called the exploratory drilling “a pinprick” on the earth compared to other things going on in the watershed, like forestry. 

“It’s bigger than that,” replied Coun. Erin Carlson, arguing they need to be proactive in protecting the community's drinking water.

“I would suggest that if the potential outcome is to end up with a mine in our watershed, I think that could be quite serious and we should be paying attention and standing with our neighbours on this one.”

Local governments in Peachland and with the Penticton Indian Band have already sent secondary letters of objection to the work, council heard.

“Look at Princeton and their mine, and how many people it employs. Look at Brenda Mines behind Peachland,” said Coun. Marty Van Alphen. “There are a lot of people in Summerland that were very fortunate to work there and basically built their farms.”

“Have you looked at Brenda Mines on Google Earth?” asked Mayor Toni Boot. “It’s significant and ongoing devastation there.”

Troubadour Resources has been touting the prosperity of Brenda Mines, just 10 kilometres from its own mineral claims, to investors as it probes the area in search of copper and gold.

During its 20 year lifespan ending in 1990, an average of 330 people were employed at Brenda Mines. In all, $215M in salaries were paid out to employees and $79M in taxes were paid by mine, which primarily extracted copper and molybdenum. A water treatment plant remains on site today treating flows exiting the mine before they enter Trepanier Creek.

Coun. Barkwill suggested trying to actively kill the prospect of a mine, before it's even known if the minerals are there to support it, is irresponsible.

“If they don’t do the drilling, they don’t even get that chance to decide that it’s of value and the impact is manageable,” he said.

Coun. Doug Holmes agreed, and proposed the letter of “concern” rather than “objection” in a bid to invite to company to the table.

The motion to send a letter of concern to the province and invite Troubadour Resources for a presentation passed 5-1 with Coun. Barkwill opposed and Coun. Doug Patan absent.