By Ian Holmes

Provincial support revives hope in saving Morden Mine

Oct 7, 2017 | 9:01 PM

NANAIMO — There’s a glimmer of hope in restoring an iconic coal mining structure south of Nanaimo.

The provincial government has announced $25,000 to conserve a 74-foot high mine shaft structure at Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park located off Morden Rd.

Friends of Morden Mine Society (FMMS) past president Eric Ricker told NanaimoNewsNOW the commitment is a good first step.

“What you’re doing here is trying to stall for time,” Ricker said.

In a news release the province referenced work to fix the mine includes beginning the stabilization of the headframe and tipple, removing debris and getting rid of timbers from the headframe.

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Ricker stressed much more money will be required to preserve the 104-year-old landmark long term. He said time is ticking on Morden Mine.

“This money ($25,000) will be well spent if the government immediately follows through with a major commitment to fix the headframe and the tipple, both of which are in danger of collapse.”

Ricker said a major commitment would be in the neighbourhood of $3 million, an amount revealed in a 2014 engineering study examining required work to fix Morden Mine.

“We know that Morden was the third oldest concrete tipple left anywhere in the world and the second oldest standing,” Ricker said. “Given those facts the urgency of this is paramount.”

Morden Mine opened in 1913 and operated until it went bankrupt in 1921, according to the FMMS.

Ricker credited original FMMS board member Helen Tilley for securing the $25,000 in provincial funding.

Ian@NanaimoNewsNOW.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes