Gold mining company purchases parcel of land for conservation
St Barbara was required to conserve land to offset the impacts of its mining operations
The company behind Nova Scotia's Touquoy gold mine has purchased land on the Eastern Shore to conserve, as required by the province.
Australia-based St Barbara announced Tuesday it has bought 228 hectares of ecologically sensitive land next to the Ship Harbour Long Lake wilderness area and the Tangier Grand Lake wilderness area.
The parcel of land is home to watercourses and wetlands of special significance and is suitable for wildlife habitat.
"We are excited to move forward with this important initiative that safeguards natural areas for future generations," said Andrew Strelein, the director of St Barbara subsidiary Atlantic Mining, in a news release.
Conservation required under industrial approval
The Touquoy gold mine in Moose River, N.S., opened in 2017 and wrapped up active mining in January 2023.
As part of the company's industrial approval, it is required to acquire and conserve other land to offset the area that has been impacted by its mining operations.
The company said it issued a call for suggestions for land parcels from land trusts, community groups and the public, and received 18 proposals. The selected land was previously in the hands of a private landowner. In April, the Environment Department agreed to give the land conservation status.
St Barbara spokesperson Dustin O'Leary would not release the purchase price, but said it falls within the stipulations of the mine's industrial approval.
O'Leary said the land that will be conserved is comprised of three parcels that abut one of the two wilderness areas, but do not connect them.
In addition to designating newly conserved land, the company must eventually reclaim the land where the mine was located. O'Leary said that process is underway, but will likely take years.
