Pierre Perrin-Monlouis Dernière mise à jour: 20 octobre 2021
Xstrata Copper and the Town of Murdochville have signed a letter of agreement in which Xstrata Copper will donate goods and services totalling close to CDN$150,000 to the municipality.
The agreement provides for CDN$29,700 to level and beautify the entrances to the town, CDN$41,600 to demolish old industrial buildings and remove dangerous elements from the town’s tunnels, CDN$10,000 to build a skateboard park and CDN$15,000 for other rehabilitation and demolition work.
The agreement also includes CDN$50,000 towards the operating costs of a new building that contains senior’s housing and an early childhood centre. The donation will be spread over five years, at a rate of $10,000 a year, once the centre starts operating.
These donations are in addition to the land and industrial buildings which Xstrata donated to the town several years ago, including the building that now houses the Corus Centre for research on wind energy. In 2005, the Copper Interpretation Centre, which receives about 10,000 visitors a year, also received a donation worth CDN$50,000 in equipment from the mine and smelter.
The mayor of Murdochville, Délisca Ritchie-Roussy, noted how cooperative Xstrata Copper has been throughout the closure of the company’s facilities in Murdochville: “We are very pleased with the cooperation we are receiving from Xstrata management, who listen to us and do everything possible to minimize the inconveniences of the major rehabilitation efforts underway in our town. Xstrata Copper is a key player in our history and leaves an important legacy that extends far beyond the donations announced today.”
Jacques Moulins, General Manager, Site Environment and Rehabilitation for Xstrata Copper Canada, pointed out how important it is for the company to leave the community with an environment that will allow for future development: “The rehabilitation and demolition work is now drawing to a close and we wanted to give an additional hand to this dynamic community which is taking responsibility for its future.”
This summer, an important milestone was reached on September 16, 2008 when the last roll of sod was laid down as part of the rehabilitation of properties in and around the town. Some 675 lots were rehabilitated, one year ahead of schedule.
Major projects are underway on the industrial site and several large buildings have already been demolished, including the smelter. Xstrata Copper has also made good progress in the Sandy Beach area in Gaspé, where it has rehabilitated 90% of the residential lots.
Xstrata Copper expects the work in Murdochville and Gaspé to be completed in 2009, for a total cost of CDN$140 million.
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