Municipality of Greenstone - Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan

Details of instrument

The purpose of the Official Plan Amendment is to re-designate certain properties from the current "Open Space", "Hazard Land", "Commercial", "Industrial", and "Future Water Supply" designations to the "Rural" designation. This amendment is required to permit the development of an open pit gold mine and associated facilities and uses by Greenstone Gold Mines GP Inc.

The Official Plan Amendment also proposes to add policies to enable the use of Site Plan Control, Holding Provisions and authority to acquire lands and hold lands for the purpose of developing the project.

The effect of the Official Plan Amendment is to facilitate the development of an open pit gold mine and associated facilities and uses being proposed by the applicant, Greenstone Gold Mines GP Inc., also known as the Hardrock Project (the Project).

The Project will consist of an open pit gold mine, processing plant and ancillary facilities. These facilities will include a temporary work camp that will be used to house construction workers during the initial facility construction phase. The Project area is composed of approximately 4100 hectares.

Greenstone Gold Mines GP Inc. have completed both a federal and provincial environmental assessment (EA) in connection with this Project; both EA's have now been approved.

There is also an application for an implementing amendment to Geraldton Zoning By-law 98-2040 that has been processed concurrently by the Municipality of Greenstone.

Other information

During the public consultation period, the government contact may also be reached at 1-800-465-5027, extension 1655, or directly at 1-807-475-1655 (Canada wide, 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM EST, Monday to Friday).

If you have any questions, or would like to submit comments, please do so either online (below), by letter or phone to the contact person listed. Please submit your comment during the 30-day public consultation period and reference the Environmental Registry Number 019-1010.

Your personal information may be used in the decision-making process on this proposal and it may be used to contact you if clarification of your comment is required. It may be shared (along with your comment) with other Ontario ministries for use in the decision-making process. Questions about this collection should be directed to the contact listed.

If a person or public body that wishes to file an appeal in respect of the proposed amendment does not submit written comments to the Minister before the Minister gives or refuses to give a decision (e.g., during the public consultation period), the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal may dismiss the appeal. Appeal of a decision of the Minister in respect of this proposed amendment may be made by any person or public body not later than 20 days after notice of the decision is given. If you wish to be notified of the decision of the Minister in respect of the proposed amendment, you must make a written request to the Minister at the contact address.