Seven years ago Moe South resident Nina Burke took a good look at Hazelwood and instead of seeing a huge tract of land where a power station had been and a massive hole in the ground, Nina imagined it differently.
Nina allowed herself to dream of what it could become and saw the possibility to turn this massive asset into a thriving economic hub, creating much needed jobs and income for the Valley.
Nina shared her dream with others and founded a community group titled Great Latrobe Park, and for the past seven years they have been working to enrol local and state government and the mine owners in the vision.
When Hazelwood shut down it cost a lot of jobs. Yallourn is also scheduled to close soon with another massive cost to the community in lost jobs. Add in the cost of the closure of the native timber logging industry last year and The Valley economy is taking a serious nose dive, which will get worse. It is expected that Gross Regional Product in our region will drop from $7 billion to $5 billion per annum. Indications are one in ten jobs will disappear at a cost of $350 million annually. When jobs go, business closures follow closely, homelessness, poverty and social issues rise.
But all is not lost, and it is not all gloom and doom, if the vision of GLP is enacted upon and these massive mines – starting with Hazelwood – are developed into vibrant economic projects, creating businesses and jobs and bringing wealth and stability to Latrobe Valley.
Fortunately, Hazelwood mine owner, Engie Australia is supportive of such rehabilitation and development. Writing recently in The Latrobe Valley Express, Jamie Lowe, head of regulation and compliance, welcomed Great Latrobe Park’s interest and agreed Hazelwood could be developed to include tourism and industry.
Hazelwood occupies four thousand hectares, which is bigger than the city of Melbourne, and the lake could hold more water than Sydney Harbour. Yallourn is even bigger and the two are geologically connected. Nina and her group see both being developed to provide much needed economic and social stimulus.
So, what could it look like?
Tourism, the lake:
Imagine international quality hotels cut into the wall, overlooking this massive lake. Golden beaches with safe swimming areas for families. Yachting, kayaking, diving, fishing, sailboarding and more. Cafes and restaurants catering to all tastes and budgets.
A zipline running to a floating island nature reserve in the lake.
Along the shores of the lake, an international golf course, a large nature reserve for bushwalkers and birders, a tourist railway ferrying visitors around the area – eventually this train would also serve the rehabilitated Yallourn mine.
Sporting facilities, picnic areas, perhaps an underwater viewing platform.
Imagine a large Indigenous centre to help us all better understand our first peoples, and acres and acres of parklands.
Industry: Hazelwood produces billions of litres of hot water; free energy which could bring whole new green industries to Latrobe City. Agriculture, and aquaculture could and would make good use of this readily available energy source.
Among the agricultural hot houses would be spas and baths for locals and international visitors to enjoy.
None of this is impossible. In fact it is all very possible and fortunately there is time to develop it and it doesn’t have to be developed all at once. Repurposing would be gradual and that would ease the cost pressures.
In his letter in the Latrobe Valley Express, Jamie Lowe signalled that perhaps some smaller parcels of land could be made available as and when needed.
Traf District News will continue to report on this topic which could once again turn The Valley into a thriving and vibrant economy.
Disclosure: The writer is also a member of the Great Latrobe Park Committee.
