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UPDATE: Rio Tinto/Star Diamond open houses set for next month

Jan 16, 2019 | 4:00 PM

UPDATE: 

Rio Tinto and Star Diamond has confirmed three public open houses are set for next month in Prince Albert, Melfort and Nipawin. During these Open Houses the companies will be presenting exploration work and activities planned for 2019. 

In a statement to paNOW the companies said the objectives of the open houses were to keep the community fully updated on the Project’s activities, receive public input and to respond to any questions or queries. They’ll be hosted by company staff and Diamond Development Advisory Committee members. There will be poster displays and take home brochures available for members of the public, the statement said. It added “we welcome the chance to show the local communities how we operate and look forward to seeing everyone at the Open Houses.”

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Mining giant Rio Tinto and Star Diamond Corporation will host the first in a series of public open houses next month in Prince Albert.

The two companies did not issue any widespread media announcement about the public meetings but earlier this week the city of Melfort shared information about the meeting happening in their community in February.

That led to concerns Prince Albert was sidelined.

However, P.A. mayor Greg Dionne has confirmed with paNOW the city would host the opening public open house Wednesday, Feb. 6.

“Just for you to know we’ve been front and centre,” Dionne said. “We’re working hard with and together with Rio Tinto, and Coun. Don Cody is the chair of their large advisory committee. We’re well advised and we keep well-versed with Rio Tinto because that could be our future.”

While Dionne was excited the long-awaited project reached a stage where public open houses were being planned, he was eager not to get too carried away.

“This is a positive signal but we don’t want people to get excited thinking they can go and sell their houses or anything like that now,” he said. “This is a process and they (Rio Tinto) will explain that and how long in the future before the decision is made whether they’re going to go ahead or not.”

The open house in Prince Albert will be at the Coronet Hotel, Wednesday, Feb. 6; at the Kerry Vickar Centre in Melfort, Thursday, Feb. 7; and in Nipawin Friday, Feb. 8, at Twin Lakes Room. 

All the meetings run from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. 

paNOW reached out to representatives of Rio Tinto to learn more about the substance of the public meetings but no one was immediately available for comment, although a company spokesman said the times for the meetings were chosen to allow more people to participate.

Editors Note: This story has been amended to reflect a change in location for the Prince Albert meeteing Jan.17. The original location was the Ches Leach Lounge but that was changed to the Coronot Hotel. 

 

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow