Mine Closure 2026 Site Visit
15–17 September 2026 | Sofitel Melbourne On Collins, Melbourne, Australia
Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project Site Visit
Date: Friday 18 September 2026
Location: Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project, Latrobe Valley, Victoria.
The Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project involves the transformation of the former 1,600 megawatt power station and open cut lignite brown coal mine in Latrobe Valley, Victoria.
As part of Mine Closure 2026, a site visit is being offered to a number of attendees. ENGIE Hazelwood has kindly opened its former mine and power station for this visit, located just south of Morwell, around 150 km east of Melbourne.
The site has been used for mining and power generation since 1949, having been developed and operated by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria up until privatisation in September 1996. It once generated up to 25% of Victoria’s base load electricity.
Since power generation operations ceased in March 2017, ENGIE Hazelwood has been progressively rehabilitating and remediating the 4,000 hectare Hazelwood site, in line with obligations under its mining licence. With major infrastructure decommissioning and demolition works complete, plans for final rehabilitation works were referred by ENGIE Hazelwood to the minister for planning.
Delivering a safe, stable and sustainable landform is central to the feasibility and success of the Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project and the site’s potential for productive future uses.
A pit lake is proposed as the most effective solution to keep the mine void and surrounding areas stable and safe from risks of ground movement and fire.
The project involves the following key components:
- Filling the mine void with water to a relative level of over 45 m, Australian Height Datum, with a maximum depth of 116 m and covering an area of 1,145 hectares, using predominately groundwater, surface water and any other approved water sources.
- Earthworks to rehabilitate, stabilise and reshape landforms including upper mine batters where they are above the surface level of the future mine lake, and geotechnically stable landforms with adequate stabilising vegetation and drainage.
- Final decommissioning, draining and rehabilitation of the Hazelwood Cooling Pond (HCP) to be suitable for alternative uses and restoration of the natural alignment of Eel Hole Creek.
- Decommissioning of remaining redundant infrastructure, such as redundant roads, carparks, buildings, pumphouses on the HCP and saline water outlet pipeline.
- Construction and operation of infrastructure necessary to maintain lake depth and water quality following completion of fill, including Morwell River interconnection – providing regional flood mitigation opportunities.
Current planning and approvals
In February 2022, the Victorian minister for planning determined an environmental effects statement (EES) would be required for the Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project.
Draft scoping requirements were exhibited in 2023 and public submissions informed the governments preparation of the final scoping requirements.
The Victorian minister for planning will provide a final assessment of the effects of the project following public exhibition of the EES and a subsequent inquiry.
A parallel referral to the Commonwealth Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is in progress, with assessment outcomes expected over the coming months.
Under arrangements between the Commonwealth and the State of Victoria, any EPBC Act assessment requirements will be able to be addressed through a single EES process.
ENGIE Hazelwood site tour key highlights:
- Hazelwood mine void which is just over 30% full of water
- Power block, site of the former coal-fired power station
- Landfill sites and ash depositories
- Fire services system and mine fire lookout
- Morwell River Flood Diversion
- Hazelwood Battery Energy Storage System 1.0
Further information on the current rehabilitation activities and approvals process can be found here: https://www.hazelwoodrehabilitation.com.au/
Personal Protection Equipment
Visitors to wear enclosed, sturdy, preferably waterproof shoes. Steel-capped boots are not required. Visitors to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts/tops.
ENGIE Hazelwood will provide visitors with a hard hat, safety vests and safety glasses, but guests are welcome to bring their own.
Photographs for personal use may be taken with permission of your ENGIE Hazelwood tour guide.
Site Visit Schedule*
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
|
07:30 |
Bus departure from Sofitel on Collins Hotel Melbourne |
|
09:30 |
Arrival at Hazelwood security gate |
|
10:00 |
Complete induction and overview in Mine Training Facility |
|
11:00 |
Bus departure for mine tour |
|
|
Stop 1: Hazelwood BESS |
|
|
Stop 2: Mine Fire lookout |
|
12:00 |
Lunch served at pop up tent at Mine Fire lookout |
|
|
Stop 3: Morwell River Flood Diversion |
|
|
Stop 4: Geotech batter overview |
|
|
Stop 5: HARA/Landfill overview |
|
14:00 |
Return to security gate, bus departure |
|
16:30 |
Arrive back at Sofitel on Collins Hotel Melbourne |
*Schedule subject to change.