With all this Ajax hullabaloo going on, maybe a common sense approach is what’s needed in this issue. For argument’s sake I will say the mine is coming. In that case why can't someone say to the mine to rethink its current layout?

It's a 360-degree pit so why not move the waste rock storage and tailings south of the pit and give the city another 2km buffer? I can't see it being that difficult since no construction has started.

Obviously the pit cannot be moved, but from the projections I've seen, the pit is three km away and it is the tailings and waste rock piles that are closer.

As mentioned, the pit is 360 degrees around so they could just mine from the other side. If they then covered the hill with trees, we would also have a great sound buffer to calm people’s fears about blasting time and to help trap some excess dust. Maybe it's too simple of a solution, but it's an idea none the less.

MIKE DONALDSON

Kamloops