December 9th, 2005

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Regarding a coal mine proposed by West Hawk Development Corporation on the
Australian Ranch. Located 32 Kilometres south of Quesnel, British Columbia
on Hwy97 onto Yorston and Australian Road. Cariboo District lots 3; 4; BL:
C DL: 5052 and DL 6045. My husband Bob (Robert), daughter Kerri and I
Lenore currently own and operate a 250 head cow/calf operation. Our oldest
daughter Holley has worked for us every summer for the past 11 years, but
one where she was employed with the Natural Resource Sciences COOP program.
The farm is our only sources of income. This land has been farmed for over
130 years. The past 102 years it has been farmed by the Yorston family.
This property is Class1 farmland. We received honourable mention in the
2005 Showcase Farm Competition, presented by BCAC and British Columbia
Agritourism. We have taken part in the Environmental Farm Plan Program,
Certified Beef Program and have participated in the Focus on the Future
Workshop which helps in developing the Agri-Food Industry in B.C. These are
recent farm related activity, but I think this would give you the idea, that
we are farmers to the core and will do anything to stay in this industry.
Initially in the end October 2005, we had surprise visitors, Dave Zernhelt,
along with two other people identifying themselves as part of West Hawk
Development Corporation. They had just informed Bob Yorston that they had
just acquired the Coal Rights in this area. Mid November we received a
package in the mail from West Hawk which really alarmed us stating, "Are the
mine/ and plant to be located on private property? Yes, the mine and plant
will be located on private property. The coal licenses underlie both parts
of the Australian Ranch and the Jacques Ranch. Mining operations will have
significant visual, noise and dust impacts, on both these properties. West
Hawk has notified the owners of the properties, and will shortly be in
negotiations with the owners of these properties and adjacent properties
regarding purchase or lease of the lands." This is the way we found out how
involved the Australian Ranch was. We had no further contact with West Hawk
until David Zernhelt phone on November 28th, 2005, to inform us, that along
with himself, seven others on this project would be coming the next morning
for a meeting with us and the other property owner's mentioned.

November 29th, 2005 Mr. David Zernhelt, along with Bruce Graff, Michael
Townsend, Mark Hart, Dave Hayman, Eric Fler, Dick Burke and Chris Verrico
had a meeting at the Bob Yorston residence. The others present at this
meeting were Margaret and David Moffat, Inez Jacques, Ray Jacques, owners of other farmers involved. Kerri, Lenore and
Bob Yorston were also present at this meeting. West Hawk came to tell us
that they were going ahead with the last test drilling on the Australian
Ranch and would like to look at the topography. All the farm owners made it
clear that they did not want a coal mine on or near their property. Bob
toured the group to the sites, with the thought that they would see it was
clear, this is prime agricultural land and they would retract from their
proposal. Instead they indicated that they would be back in a week to start
test drilling. Bob Yorston did make it clear, when any of West Hawks people
wanted on their land they would need signed documentation by him for
permission to enter onto his land.

This was a horrific thing to do to your fellow human beings. I will not be
feasible to live with the noise, dust, the contamination of the water and
food for us and our livestock. We also sell product at the local Quesnel
Farmers' Market. The land they propose the place the pit mine pastures 250
cow/calf pairs. We also have a very rare wildlife sanctuary below the field
that will no doubt be devastated by this destruction. Through out the
history of the farm we have welcomed people and groups to our farm for
various types of events. Every Sunday in May we hold what has been coined
"Bun Sunday". I make home made cinnamon buns to sell and people come from
miles around to donate all proceeds to the Quesnel Cancer Society - $1114.00
in 2005. August to Mid-October we have a corn maze. Hundreds of people come
to visit, tour our 1923 year old farm house and just enjoy the peace and
wonderful atmosphere of farm life. Our personal garden has been in Garden's
West Magazine in the Jan/Feb 2004 edition. Spring to fall people come to
visit and enjoy the peaceful sanctuary we have built for people to enjoy.
Field days of every farm related subject have been hosted here. I could
continue and fill pages of what we have done to support and be part of this
wonderful close knit community. Need I say more.? This mine would be
catastrophic to our prime farmland, neighbourhood and community. We beg of
you please put a stop to it now!

Sincerely,
Lenore Yorston
6666 Yorston Rd.
Quesnel, B.C V2J 6M1
Ph#: (250) 747-8339
Fax#: (250) 747-8309
e-mail: vickiysperplus@telus.net