Wood pellet mill proponent hopes to start clearing site by this summer
Businessman estimates new plant could create up to 90 jobs in Enterprise area
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Friday, June 5, 2015
ENTERPRISE
Brad Mapes told Enterprise council last week he has long promoted the community as the ideal spot for his business, Aurora Wood Pellets Ltd.
Brad Mapes: Wood pellet mill proponent spoke to a packed Enterprise council about his proposed business. - |
Mainly, he said, because of the rail connection and its proximity to pellet-harvesting communities Fort Resolution and Fort Providence.
"Basically, it's a great location," he told council June 2.
Mapes' appearance before council was widely anticipated in Enterprise and attracted about 20 residents. He discussed many aspects of the project, including the economic benefit he believes his plant would bring to the area.
"We're going to create a whole new industry sector that maximizes a renewable resource that's really not utilized," he said.
Once in operation, he estimates the mill will produce at least 150,000 cubic metres of pellets each year. However Mapes said, depending on supply, that production level could increase to 300,000-350,000 cubic metres a year.
A minimal 150,000-cubic-metre production would mean about 45-50 jobs at the site and probably 55 truck drivers, plus spin-off jobs, he said.
At the higher production, there might be 80-90 jobs on site, plus truck drivers.
Mapes told council he is hoping to start site preparation for the project this year. However, he first needs to obtain land, which he says is the main next step in the project. He said he would like to purchase the land from the hamlet sometime in the next eight weeks.
"We want to get it done so that we can start going this summer," he said. "What I'd like to see is to have the land cleared and look at getting our rail spur in the property."
The Commissioner's land is in the process of being transferred from the GNWT to the Hamlet of Enterprise. Mapes had originally wanted 130 hectares of a large section of land about four km north of Enterprise, but still within the hamlet's corporate limits.
"What we'd like to do is propose that we take the whole 330 hectares," he told council, saying the project can completely utilize that much land.
The price tag on this plot has not yet been determined.
Later, at its June 2 meeting, hamlet council passed first reading of a bylaw to change the zoning of the land from community reserve to industrial. Council hopes the bylaw will pass third reading on July 6. While at the meeting, Mapes answered a number of questions from council members and community residents.
"Is it going to create smells or ash or any by-products like that that might come over and fall on Enterprise here?" asked Deputy Mayor Craig McMaster.
Mapes responded the project will use Alaskan emission guidelines, which are stricter than Canadian guidelines.
"It's not going to be any different than going by High Level," he noted.
"If you don't like the smell of wood, I guess you might not like this idea."
Coun. John Leskiw III expressed concern about the number of trucks bringing timber to the mill and the impact on highways.
Mapes answered there will be about 3,500 trucks coming from Fort Resolution annually and just shy of 3,000 from Fort Providence, mostly in the winter, and that means the highways will have to be improved.
Winnie Cadieux, a community resident and former mayor, asked Mapes what the downside of the project might be for Enterprise.
"I think the downside is going to be that your community is going to grow a lot faster than maybe you want it at times," he responded, adding it needs a plan on how it will handle that growth, which might include the need for more housing and services.
Mapes estimated five to 10 per cent of the mill's workforce might live in Enterprise.
All workers will be bussed to the mill, which will produce both wood pellets and pressed logs. Mapes owns 97 per cent of the project, while the other three per cent is owned by former premier Joe Handley, who has helped get the proposal moving forward with aboriginal groups.
The GNWT is not helping finance the project.
"I've used my own financing to get to where we're at today," said Mapes, who said he's been working on this project for four and a half years.
