ENGIE Hazelwood is proposing to create a pit lake as the primary method for rehabilitating the site and addressing the substantial stability and fire risks associated with a large coal mine void.
For the Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project, the full level of the lake is proposed to be +45 m RL AHD, which is 45 m above sea level.
A pit lake landform has been a central element of the rehabilitation plans for the site since the mine was first developed by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV) in the 1950s.
Creating full pit lakes in former coal mines is a common rehabilitation method that is used extensively around the world.
Why there is no do-nothing option
There is no ‘do nothing’ option at the Hazelwood site.
An empty mine void would have substantial ongoing stability and fire risks and would require the permanent pumping of significant volumes of groundwater from below the mine.
The large Hazelwood site would need to be permanently fenced, would never be useable for the public and would negatively impact the future of Morwell and the Latrobe Valley.
A full pit lake would not just make the site stable and safe in the long term - it would provide significant potential economic, recreational and flood mitigation benefits to local communities and the region.
Comparing the current conditions case to the proposed full pit lake
Drag the slider from the left to right to compare the current conditions with the new proposed full pit lake.
Watch our video on options for the pit lake
The EES considers two options – a lake with no connection to other waterways, and a lake with a connection to the Morwell River.
This video provides an overview of the connected lake option.
