The former Northern Wood property could see some new industrial life if a local businessman’s plans are realized.
Pierre Gagne purchased the 160-acre piece of land along Thunder Bay’s waterfront and finalized the year-long deal last week. He wants to see it transformed into a mining processing area, starting with an iron ore company he chairs.
Rockex Mining Corporation is in the process of developing a one-billion ton iron ore deposit north of Sioux Lookout.
He wants to use the old iron ore loading docks at the south edge of his newly purchased property to ship the material. And with other developments proposed around the region, the docks could ship 20 million tons a year.
“Since the price (of iron ore) has gone from $30 dollars to $150 a ton there will be other companies opening in the Northwest,” Gagne said.
The property, at the end of Maureen Street, has four buildings totaling more than 59,000 square feet that Gagne wants to lease until operations begin.
Ultimately he wants to see the whole area, which stretches all the way to the former Pool 6 site, filled with mining activity.
“I’d like it to be a mining area,” he said.
As for the city’s plan to connect Thunder Bay’s 52 kilometres of waterfront through a trail system, Gagne said he wouldn’t be opposed to the idea.
“As long as it doesn’t interfere with the loading master plan and the insurance coverage is well in place by others everything is possible we could accommodate,” he said.
