Nova ScotiaA group of residents in the Coxheath Hills area near Sydney, N.S., says it is concerned that no one is providing an update on a proposed copper mine two years after the company offered to buy some public land for the project.Residents’ group says municipality, company are not providing any updates 2 years after land purchase offerTom Ayers · CBC News · Posted: Jul 29, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 8 hours agoPower lines cut across the Coxheath Hills area about 10 kilometres southwest of Sydney, N.S., running across land where junior mining company Nova Copper wants to establish a copper mine. (Tom Ayers/CBC)Residents in the Coxheath Hills area about 10 kilometres southwest of Sydney, N.S., are nervously awaiting word on the status of a proposed copper mine.Nova Copper offered to buy some land two years ago from Cape Breton Regional Municipality for its proposed mining project, but council declined to publicly consider it.Laura MacNeil, president of the Keep Coxheath Clean Association, said residents are worried a copper mine could hurt wildlife and ruin the drinking water.”The community has to be on board and we are simply not,” she said in a recent interview. “We refuse to become a sacrifice zone.”MacNeil said CBRM council promised consultation with residents two years ago, but is no longer responding to requests for information.”It’s really concerning,” she said.”We are a group of citizens who have legitimate concerns with this project. It has the potential to poison our drinking water, so we kind of feel like we’re yelling into the void.”Copper exploration ongoingCopper is a critical mineral needed for batteries, electric motors and renewable energy. According to the Mining Association of Nova Scotia, the first exploration for copper in the Coxheath Hills began in 1878. Nova Copper president Harry Cabrita has said the project is still in its exploration phase and workers are collecting mineral samples over a wide area.According to the Keep Coxheath Clean Association, a freedom of information request with CBRM uncovered a letter from the company to Coun. Esmond (Blue) Marshall last fall.In it, Nova Copper said it would be reaching out to First Nations leaders and creating a community liaison committee “in the weeks to come.” No one from Nova Copper would provide an interview, but spokesman Joe Hines said in an email that the company is close to signing an agreement.He did not say what that agreement would mean.District 3 Coun. Esmond (Blue) Marshall says he has not heard anything lately about a proposed copper mine in the Coxheath Hills area southwest of Sydney. (Tom Ayers/CBC)Marshall, who represents the Coxheath Hills area on CBRM council, said in a phone call last week that he has not heard anything lately about the proposed mine.Meanwhile, MacNeil called it upsetting that the provincial government is pushing for the development of critical metals like copper.”That was not part of their platform when we were in the election back in the fall, so it’s disappointing that they are now deciding without the voters’ say that this is the direction we’re taking.”We believe in development. We know that’s so important. We need jobs in Nova Scotia, but it can’t be at any cost.”
Coxheath Hills residents worried about silence surrounding proposed CBRM copper mine
