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Work is well underway at beyond Tarago, reviving the former Woodlawn Mine.
For several years Heron Resources has been preparing the ground and building infrastructure to extract 1.5 million tonnes annually of zinc and copper from the old mine, abandoned by Denehurst Pty Ltd in 1998.
The $240 million project won State Government approval in 2016.
In December, the company reported that significant work had been completed on its processing plant, administration area and site access roads. Engineering design was also 50 per cent completed with civil works scheduled to start in this quarter.
Now the company has awarded a port services contract. Managing director Wayne Taylor confirmed that Australian owned and operated company Port Kembla Gateway Pty Ltd (PKG), would receive, store and shipload zinc and copper concentrates from Woodlawn over the next five years. The contract includes an option to extend beyond this term.
PKG was established in the 1980s to service the previous Woodlawn operations. Its current facilities include a two- berth jetty, ancillary storage sheds and buildings, hardstand areas, ship loading and unloading equipment, and general equipment for the handling and temporary storage of cargo. The company also transports material for other NSW mines.
The ore will be transported by road to PKG’s facilities in the Outer Harbour, Port Kembla, where they will be unloaded into sheds specifically designed for the safe and weather-tight storage of mineral concentrates, and warehoused in preparation for shipping.
An enclosed conveyor belt then loads the material for bulk shipment.
PKG managing director Doyle Cook welcomed the contract, saying it would increase the company’s concentrate movements by 25 per cent.