Diatreme Resources Limited announced further progress in the regulatory approval process for its Galalar Silica Project, with the successful completion and installation in late December 2020 of 12 groundwater monitoring bores. The new bores will facilitate the detailed hydrogeological studies and baseline water quality assessments required for the environmental impact assessment (EIS) process, as part of the final permitting and approvals necessary prior to commencement of mining activity at the North Queensland project. The first stage of the groundwater monitoring program was completed using both Diatreme's aircore drill rig and a specialist water bore rig from FNQ Drilling and a registered water bore driller. Leading independent technical services firm Golder Associates Pty Ltd. (Golder) supervised the technical component of the monitoring and will monitor groundwater movements following the start of the regional wet season in January/February 2021. A draft technical study was completed by Golder in early 2020 to provide a preliminary assessment of the surface water and groundwater conditions at the project area. To determine the groundwater regime, a series of groundwater monitoring bores was proposed to provide background information and data. Registered Bore Details: Bores RN 193195, 193200 & 193201: Three monitoring bores in a transect across Deep Creek; Bore RN 193196: Preliminary monitoring bore used to monitor drawdown during the pumping test, located 30m to the southeast of the proposed pumping bore location. The radial distances of the monitoring bores from the pumping bore were selected using an analytical Theis equation, with estimated literature values for hydraulic properties and a threshold of at least 0.2m of drawdown after 3 days of pumping at 5L/s; Bore RN 193197: Single monitoring bore upgradient of wetland along the north of the site; Bore RN's 193191 & 193194: Two monitoring bores located along the coastal frontage and directly up gradient of wetland; Bore RN's 193197, 193192 &193193: Three monitoring bores within various sand dunes to collect spatial and temporal data on dune sand hydrogeological and hydrochemical characteristics; Bore RN's 193190 & 193198: Two monitoring bores associated with Alligator Creek. In addition to the monitoring and baseline water program, Diatreme also plans to install a volume test bore in February/March 2021, following the start of the wet season. Drillnorth will drill a large diameter bore of 200 to 225mm diameter to allow installation of equipment for a pump test. This pumping bore will be used to extract groundwater during the multirate and threeday constant rate pumping tests. The pumping test will provide information on the transmissivity and storativity of the dune sand aquifer, which will be used to calibrate the impact assessment groundwater model and provide insights on the efficacy of the groundwater supply scheme. Extracted water from the pump test will be released across the dune and allowed to seep back into the dune. The reports from the EIS studies will form chapters of the draft EIS document, which will be prepared over the next six months prior to lodgement of the draft EIS document with Queensland's Department of Environment and Science (DES) and the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) for its adequacy and consistency with the final EIS terms of reference requirements. Once the draft EIS has been deemed satisfactory by DES and DAWE, another round of public input will commence and if necessary, the draft EIS will be revised or supplementary studies undertaken. At that time, assessment of state and Commonwealth matters will be undertaken under the Queensland/Commonwealth bilateral agreement.