Toronto-based gold company Marathon has received authorisation from Fisheries and Oceans Canada for the Valentine project, in central Newfoundland.

The authorisation allows Marathon to proceed with all site activities regulated by the Fisheries Act, such as dewatering of small freshwater ponds for openpit mine development, changes in flow owing to site water management, and placement of water intake and effluent pipes.

The authorisation follows the successful completion of the federal environmental assessment process in August.

“The latest authorisation under the Fisheries Act is a major permit under federal jurisdiction for the project, and governs the important aspects of water management and the protection of fish and fish habitat. Its receipt is timely, and supports the scheduled site work currently under way,” said president and CEO Matt Manson.

“The early works mobilisation at Valentine has gone well, and we are able to report good progress in each work area including temporary camp installation, grubbing and tree removal, pad construction, haul road development, and pre-strip mining for construction materials.”

The Fisheries Act authorisation also includes approval to proceed with a proposed fish habitat offsetting project, which will involve the restoration of salmonid habitat in Victoria river impacted by previous logging activities in the area. Submerged pulpwood in the river will be removed to expose the original substrate, returning the spawning and nursery habitat to its pre-logging condition.

BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
Meanwhile, Marathon has started the replacement of the Victoria river bridge. This is an important river crossing on the principal access road along the southern shore of Beothuk Lake (formerly Red Indian Lake) connecting the project to the community of Millertown and the broader Central Newfoundland region. 

The existing bridge is in poor condition, and has been under load restriction for some time. Its replacement has been a priority of Marathon’s but could not be undertaken while the project remained under environmental assessment. The new bridge will allow heavier loads to be transported to the project site, and will provide a more reliable and, most importantly, safer crossing for local residents, cabin owners and recreational users.

As the replacement work is ongoing, the access route along the southern shore of Beothuk Lake will be closed for five to six weeks.

Marathon is also currently undertaking road upgrades between the project site and the “Roebuck’s” road intersection at the southwest end of Beothuk Lake.