PRESS RELEASE: The hydraulic mining operation at Woodlawn, alongside the underground operations that commenced in September 2018, will provide a second ore source to be processed through a new processing plant.

The operation covers the recently arrived hydraulic monitors and the associated high-pressure water, reclaim and slurry transfer pumps. The commissioning activities have involved the functional testing of equipment in the circuit, including the commissioning of the trash screen and transfer pumps at the transfer station.

Commissioning activities are expected to ramp up over a 4-8-week period and will include the hydraulic excavation of the main channels in preparation for ore commissioning of the process plant with progression to full production rates.

The EPC contractor has commenced its commissioning activities in the main process plant, with low-voltage and control circuit testing underway. These activities (dry, wet and ore commissioning) will continue through stages into the March quarter of 2019, when first production is expected.

An integral component of the Woodlawn process plant is the water treatment plant that is also well into the commissioning phase.

Heron Resources managing director Wayne Taylor commented: "Commencement of the commissioning activities marks the start of the final phase in the construction programme for the Woodlawn project.

"We have now been under construction for 16 months, and while there is still much to do, this is an exciting time as various components of the process plant are powered up. We have also been busy readying ourselves for the commencement of production activities to make our transition to becoming a significant new base metal producer early in 2019 as rapidly as possible."