BY THE NUMBERS
Day 1 open to the public (Thurs., Oct. 24) : 700+ visitors
Four-day total: 3,500+
Share your photos at #hollingerpit
Members of the media and a handful of dignitaries on Wednesday got a sneak peek at the lookout beside the Hollinger open pit, which opens to the public on Thursday.
It’s on the environmental control berm at the top of the old Shania Twain Road. Newmont Goldcorp Porcupine general manager Marc Lauzier says it’s part of the company’s commitment to transparency, and he suspects it will be a tourist attraction.
“I hope so,” he chuckles. “To me, it’s just an opportunity for anyone in the community who has family and friends. We always get asked for tours, they’re very hard to do, but here’s a good area for people to come, and just come to see what the operation looks like and it doesn’t require a tour guide.”
Neither does it require an admission fee, and there’s a lot of parking.
(Bob McIntyre, MyTimminsNow.com staff)
Lauzier expects people to come back several times.
“Absolutely. And if someone has different family members, they can come and see the progress we’re making. This will be open and will be available for people to see, yes.”
The 72-metre-deep pit has another 100 metres to be dug out by the anticipated end of the Hollinger project, in the first quarter of 2023.