Golfers soon will be able to play a full 18 holes on a newly expanded course designed by Les Furber, one of the top course designers in the world. The expanded amenity is part of a multi-million-dollar effort, spearheaded by
Barrick acquired the historic mine as part of its 1994 takeover of Lac Minerals. Once an economic cornerstone of the region, with 34 years of continuous production to its credit, the mine site deteriorated after it was closed in 1972. Many viewed it as an eyesore, since some of the surface buildings were left standing and the site was not revegetated until 1986.
Working with the community and local government, Barrick contributed $4 million to rehabilitate the site and turn the mine into a tourist attraction. The company retained landscape architect Martha Schwartz of Harvard University to develop a design for the tailings area. The site now includes a Forest Fire Interpretive Centre and a Heritage Centre housing interactive displays of local history and details of mine reclamation work.
Citizens of Geraldton were closely involved in the project, which now includes the expansion of a golf course built in 1937. Landscape architecture students from Harvard and mining engineering students from Queen’s University also gained practical learning experience from the rehabilitation project.
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