IUOE News February 2015

Site C Dam project
begins 18 month
preparation phase
Mike Spiruda,
Business Representative
The Provincial Government gave the final go ahead in December
to the $8.8 billion Site C Dam project on the Peace River
near Fort St. John. BC Hydro has stated that the construction
schedule is 6 months behind and will begin in the
summer of 2015.
There is 18 months of preparation work to be
completed before the actual construction of the
dam itself can begin. Preparation work will involve
clearing, stripping, access roads, laydown sites,
camp accommodations, diversion tunnels, coffer
dams and a temporary bridge across the river to enable access
back and forth to the site.
In conjunction with Site C and B.C. Hydro remaining
committed to their green renewable energy plan, BC Hydro
has also given the green light to Pattern Developments Meikle
Wind Energy project located 30 kilometers north of Tumbler
Ridge.
This $400 million project will consist of 61 wind turbines
with construction starting this spring. The project is planned
to be operational by the end of 2016. These projects will be
beneficial to laid off members who worked in the Tumbler
Ridge coal mining industry to achieve meaningful employment
once again.
The municipalities of Fort St. John and Dawson Creek are
also in the midst of planning to go ahead with major expenditures
to improve the outgrown and much needed infrastructure
systems.
As the price of oil and gas declines,
so do the investment dollars which
has kept the industry and many
members active for the past few years.
Some of the anticipated projects in
the Northeast have been put on hold
as the energy companies constantly
revamp their spending budgets for 2015.
Hopefully the current slide in prices level out to a stable
and suitable environment to enable major projects to go
forward.
Work Safe!
Hopefully the current
slide in prices level out
to a stable and suitable
environment
District Five
Equipment sitting idle at Peace River Coal in Tumbler Ridge
News March 2015 19