2 Background

On 9 February 2014 a fire began in the Hazelwood coal mine as a result of embers spotting from nearby bushfires. The fire burned for 45 days and impacted on local communities within Victoria's Latrobe Valley, particularly in the town of Morwell. Due to its severity and wide-reaching impacts, the Hazelwood mine fire constituted two emergencies – a major complex fire emergency and a serious public health emergency. Coal mine fires have unique properties that differentiate them from bushfires. They typically burn slowly over an extended period (normally several weeks) due to the presence of deep seated, compacted fuel, unlike bushfires which burn quickly and unpredictably. Firefighters are presented with unique challenges as coal can burn beneath the ground and toxic gases can be present in the pit below ground-level. The Hazelwood mine fire required significant resources to bring under control. It became the largest and longest burning mine fire to occur in the Latrobe Valley.

2.1 Hazelwood mine fire inquiries (2014, 2015–16)

Following the Hazelwood mine fire, the Victorian Government responded with the announcement of the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry (the 2014 Inquiry) in March 2014. The Board of Inquiry was established to inquire into, report on and make recommendations in relation to the origin and circumstances of the fire, the adequacy and effectiveness of fire management measures, the relevant regulatory regime and the response to the fire and related matters. In its 2014 report, the Board of Inquiry made a total of 18 recommendations – with 12 directed to the Victorian Government and six to the mine operator, owner and licensee, GDF Suez (now ENGIE). The Board of Inquiry also identified a number of commitments – or planned improvements to emergency management arrangements for similar future events – made by the Victorian Government and GDF Suez in their Inquiry submissions. These commitments were later declared by the Board of Inquiry as affirmations – 40 of which were directed to the Victorian Government and 17 to GDF Suez.

The Victorian Government accepted the recommendations directed to it, responding through its Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry Report: Victorian Government Implementation and Monitoring Plan (October 2014).

In 2015 the Victorian Government reopened the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry to focus on human health impacts and mine rehabilitation.

The reopened Board of Inquiry produced a report in four volumes, each addressing one of the expanded Terms of Reference:

 minimising fire risks at Anglesea coal mine for the 2015–16 summer season – Volume I – Anglesea

Mine

 investigating whether there has been an increase in deaths following the 2014 Hazelwood mine fire –

Volume II – Investigations into 2009–2014 Deaths (Death Investigation Inquiry report)  measures to improve the health of the Latrobe Valley – Volume III – Health Improvement (Health

Improvement Inquiry report)  rehabilitation options for Latrobe Valley coal mines – Volume IV – Mine Rehabilitation (Mine

Rehabilitation Inquiry report). In June 2016 the Victorian Government released an updated implementation plan setting out the 246 actions being undertaken to fulfil its commitment to implement the recommendations and affirmations of the 2014 and 2015–16 Inquiry reports. The 2016 Victorian Government Implementation Plan sets out how the recommendations and affirmations are to be implemented and monitored, and is structured under the following themes:  governance and accountability  communications and community engagement  health in the Latrobe Valley  air quality and wellbeing  Latrobe Valley coal mine regulation  Latrobe Valley coal mine rehabilitation bonds  Latrobe Valley Regional Rehabilitation Strategy  emergency management planning, response and recovery. Under each theme there are a number of government actions, a lead organisation with responsibility for implementation of each action, and a due date for completion.