NEWS/UPDATES
The coal to hydrogen grift
The Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project makes no sense. A consortium of Japanese companies and AGL want to make hydrogen from brown coal or blend it with biomass in the Latrobe Valley and ship it to Japan. The pilot stage has been completed, but the community...
UN Special Rapporteur visits Latrobe Valley
The Special Rapporteur on Toxins and Human Rights, Marcos A. Orellana, visited the Latrobe Valley on 1st September. The tour to several prominent sites around Australia will inform a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2024.
Why are we importing black coal ash from interstate?
The Victorian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Vic) plans to reduce the regulatory barriers for importing black coal fly ash from New South Wales and Queensland for use in Victoria. They recently called on submission regarding the proposed changes. The following...
AGL and Cannon-Brookes
In May, billionaire tech entrepreneur Mike Cannon-Brookes again stood up and rattled the can. His private investment company Grok Ventures acquired an 11.3 per cent stake in AGL, with the stated intention of blocking a proposed demerger of the company that he thinks...
Australia ratifies Minamata Convention on Mercury
Overnight, Australia deposited its Instrument of Ratification for the Minamata Convention on Mercury with the United Nations, officially becoming a ratified Party on 7 December 2021. The treaty will enter into force for Australia on 7 March 2022. Australia signed the...
Coal Ash Concerns
Burning coal to generate electricity has resulted in Latrobe Valley’s power stations producing millions of tonnes of coal ash every year that needs to be stored, managed, rehabilitated, and if safe, reused. So, is coal ash dangerous and what will happen to these...
Community alliance warns Victoria could be left high and dry without drastic change to water management
An alliance of community and environment groups have made a public plea to the Victorian government to drastically change tack on water management across the state or risk leaving Victoria high and dry. The alliance has published a joint statement and written to...
Changes to Waste and Recycling Regulations
The EPA held an information webinar in February on Waste and Resource Recovery Determinations - for reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers for recycling in Victoria. This is to support a new recycling system and build a circular economy for the state. The aim of...
A Wrap on the Year that has been
In concurrence with the global health pandemic, our region has been facing another great challenge. Whilst this year will mark most of our lives, it is also a milestone for the rehabilitation of our coal mines here in the Latrobe Valley. In the public sphere the...
Engie’s Concept Master Plan and what it means for water
Engie have released their Concept Master Plan for rehabilitation of the Hazelwood mine, and envisions the Morwell River being re-diverted through the mine land “once fill [water] is assured”. Yallourn also plans to interconnect their full pit lake with the Morwell...