Babjak1,
Your post says: "Looks like Noront will continue where Cliffs left off."
That's is also my interpretation.
1. The southern portion with CLF funding: To help realign and improve existing ice road. THis consisted of 3 sections (first 135km section from around Nakina to the north; this was extended 70km to the north on a dirst logging road, and the final section on a rough winter trail to Marten Falls. CLF funded the maintenance of the ice road. There was a video showing the snow plouging operation, carried out by a Marten Falls snow plough operator, on You Tube? (but I could not find it at the time of writing). This project started in 2010 and it took some 3 years to complete. First winter operation was in 2013. But for the 2014 winter, not sure who will fund this operation. That is why CLF sent a letter to inform Chief Moonias of CLF may sell the chromite assets? So, somebody would need to step in to provide the funding for this portion of the ice road to Marten Falls. NOT is a good candidate if it wants to start shipping construction material up to the Esker Camp.
2. Extension to the ROF from Marten Falls to the RoF: This is mainly for the benefit of the miners in the RoF. NOT is the front runner, hence its hookup up with Marten Falls FN to build this extension is no surprise. There are a few comments on this proposal.
- Not clear about the alignment of this northern extension. If it were to align with KWG esker claims then it would be to everybody's advantage to bring KWG on board, since we don't really want another squabble like the CLF easement application.
- For the souther portion, it had an easy ride since it was for the benefit of the local FN community (Marten Falls) so that they could be connected to the south. But the northern extension is mainly for the benefit of the miners in the RoF, so it would be difficult to build it as a private road (a la CLF private road all over again). A better reception woth be to build it as a public ice road with the cost to be shared by users.
- There is a case to be made for not buiding this ice road away from KWG claims: swamp land away from the esker ridge, the road would need to cross KWG mining claims (e.g. Koper Lake) to get to the Eagle Nest, cheaper to share the cost.
- etc...
Co-operation is always a good thing.
goldhunter
