Why does Hazelwood need to be rehabilitated?
As the owner and former operator of the Hazelwood Mine and Power Station and surrounding lands, ENGIE Hazelwood has a legal obligation to remediate and rehabilitate the site.
We take our rehabilitation obligations seriously and are committed to
rehabilitating the site in a way that provides the best possible outcome for
safety and stability of the site, as well as providing opportunities for potential future uses.
The Hazelwood mine void is very large, and the safety issues of an empty mine would require long term management and pose ongoing risks across the site and for surrounding areas.
This means there is no “do nothing” option at the Hazelwood site.
A pit lake is proposed as the most effective solution to keep the mine void and surrounding areas stable and safe from risks of collapse and fire.
What does the Project involve?
The Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project involves decommissioning of remaining buildings, roads and infrastructure, earthworks to reprofile steep slopes, reinstating some water courses to a more natural alignment, and the proposed creation over time of a mine lake.
A full pit lake would help make the site safe and stable in the long term as well as provide significant potential economic, recreational and flood mitigation benefits to local communities and the region.
A range of potential water sources to create the mine lake has been identified. These options and the potential impacts of the proposed works are being considered through the preparation of an Environment Effects Statement (EES).
Project Factsheet
To find out more about Hazelwood’s rehabilitation, click below to read our project factsheet.
The Hazelwood site
Considering alternatives in the EES
The EES Scoping Requirements require the Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project EES to:
Describe any feasible alternatives capable of substantially meeting the projects objectives
Describe how information gathered during consultation was used to inform the assessment of project alternatives
Document the assessment of likely environmental effects of feasible alternatives, particularly where these may avoid or minimise significant environmental effects.
ENGIE Hazelwood needs to deliver a safe, stable, sustainable and non-polluting landform that enables productive future uses of the site.
These are both the project’s objectives and formal requirements ENGIE Hazelwood must comply with under its Mine Licence and under Victoria’s mining and environmental laws. All potential options for the site’s rehabilitation must be considered against these objectives.
The consideration of alternatives will include:
Alternatives to a full lake landform
Options for water sources to fill the pit lake
Different approaches and timings for filling the pit lake
Options with and without a connection to the Morwell River.
