Hazelwood Power Station Rehabilitation: Public Input Sought on Landmark pit Lake Plan
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The future of the former Hazelwood power station site in Australia’s Latrobe Valley hinges on an upcoming environmental assessment, with plans for a large-scale pit lake taking center stage. ENGIE, the energy company responsible for the site’s rehabilitation, anticipates completing its Environment Effects Statement (EES) in the first half of 2026, opening the door for public review and feedback.
ENGIE Australia’s head of regulation and compliance, Jamie Lowe, confirmed the company is making significant progress toward the public exhibition of the EES Statement, with subsequent panel hearings planned shortly thereafter. “This follows the recent exhibition of our Declared Mine Rehabilitation Plan, which was based on our preferred final outcome of a high-level pit lake that is safe, stable, lasting and non-polluting, and capable of being enjoyed by Latrobe Valley residents and tourists over the long-term,” Lowe stated. The company intends to actively engage with the local community in early 2026 to gather input and share details about public consultation sessions.
Comprehensive Environmental Assessment Underway
The EES is being conducted as part of a rigorous assessment process, aligned with agreements between the Commonwealth government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation act (EPBC Act) and state regulations. A state government spokesperson indicated that ENGIE is currently finalizing the EES, incorporating feedback from a technical reference group and the Department of Transport and Planning. However, the spokesperson emphasized that the timeline for completion ultimately rests with the company.
Scale of the rehabilitation Project
The scope of the Hazelwood rehabilitation project is substantial.The mine licence area encompasses approximately 4,000 hectares – an area larger then the town of Traralgon – and includes several key components. These include the 1,200-hectare mine void itself, the Eastern Overburden Dump (EOD), the former power station, staging areas for past operations, and extensive tracts of undeveloped land. Notably, the Hazelwood cooling pond falls outside the scope of the current mine license and is not directly addressed in the Declared Mine Rehabilitation Plan (DMRP).
land Divestment and future Use
ENGIE intends to transfer ownership of much of the rehabilitated land to private or government entities, with future uses aligned with the guidelines established in the DMRP. This transfer is expected to occur incrementally as different sections of the site reach completion and are deemed ready for relinquishment. The ultimate landform and rehabilitation approach will be determined by the outcomes of the ongoing EES process, which is being conducted in parallel with the advancement of the DMRP.
Filling the Void: A Multi-Source Approach
The centerpiece of the rehabilitation plan is the creation of a full lake within the mine void. to achieve this,ENGIE plans to utilize a combination of water sources,including extracted groundwater (consistent with existing licenses),surface water obtained through commercial agreements,rainfall runoff,inflows from the Morwell Main Drain,and limited floodwater skimming from the Morwell River.
To maintain the lake’s depth and water quality, infrastructure will be constructed to allow limited inflows from the Morwell River during high water and flood events. According to company statements, this infrastructure will not disrupt the river’s normal flow patterns. The resulting lake and associated works are projected to create a geotechnically stable landscape, reducing fire risk and safeguarding the nearby township of Morwell and critical infrastructure.
Stabilizing the Landscape and ensuring Public Access
Final landscaping and coal capping on the upper slopes of the mine void will involve the use of stabilizing vegetation and drainage systems. These measures are designed to ensure safe public access to the lake and enhance the overall amenity of the site for future recreational and other uses.
The rehabilitation and relinquishment of the Hazelwood site will be executed in three phases, though these phases do not directly correspond to the scope of the EES process.ENGIE clarifies that the terms “active” and “passive” rehabilitation refer to the periods of direct management by the company versus the subsequent phases of monitoring and maintenance.
