Progress update – 2014 Inquiry

DEDJTR has made substantial progress on the Latrobe Valley Rehabilitation Regulatory Reform Project, completing a review of the regulatory framework for the Latrobe Valley coal mines which also involved consulting with the Latrobe Valley Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner about reform options. Despite this progress, the two remaining actions have experienced delays, with one action requiring a significant extension to the timeframes originally set out in the Victorian Government Implementation Plan. Implementation of the reforms identified in the review of regulatory framework – including the establishment of a Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority – require additional time to implement and are not expected to be completed until 2020.

Work plan variations featuring progressive rehabilitation milestones have yet to be approved for two of the three coal mine operators. The coal mine operators and DEDJTR continue to work together to ensure the proposed variations meet regulatory requirements and set satisfactory progressive rehabilitation milestones.

Latrobe Valley coal mine rehabilitation bonds

All 11 actions under the Latrobe Valley coal mine rehabilitation bonds theme are now complete. The final action in this theme was completed in 2017–18. This is the first theme from the Victorian Government Implementation Plan to be completed. In 2017–18 DEDJTR determined that costs relating to Latrobe Valley coal mine sites following closure will be managed by a Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority, set to be established in July 2020. The establishment of the Latrobe Valley Authority provides a mechanism to manage the social and economic impacts of mine closure. In 2017–18 the Latrobe Valley Authority partnered with businesses and the community to deliver a range of initiatives to manage economic risk to the community.

Latrobe Valley Regional Rehabilitation Strategy

The Latrobe Valley Regional Rehabilitation Strategy (LVRRS) continues to progress in line with the actions and time lines set out in the Victorian Government Implementation Plan. Eighteen of the 31 actions are now complete. Three actions were completed in 2017–18. The LVRRS will set out how the three Latrobe Valley coal mines transition to safe, stable and sustainable post-mining landforms. Stage 1 of the LVRRS was reported as complete in the 2017 IGEM Hazelwood report. In 2017–18 the two lead agencies responsible for delivery of the LVRRS – DEDJTR and DELWP – have completed work on stage 2. DELWP engaged an independent consultant and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to assess the possible impact of climate change on water availability in the Latrobe Valley in the context of mine rehabilitation. The report was delivered in December 2017 and the results will be used in conjunction with scenario modelling to understand the impacts of climate change on water availability. DELWP and DEDJTR independently conducted internal reviews of the stage 2 outputs, to identify key learnings and any uncertainties to be addressed in further LVRRS work. The stage 3 project plan has been amended to address the uncertainties identified.

Stage 3 of the LVRRS will deliver two major studies –a regional geotechnical study and a regional water study. In 2017–18 DEDJTR and DELWP progressed these studies through the delivery of consultants’ reports and preliminary scoping studies.

Emergency management planning, response and recovery

Good progress has been made on emergency management planning, response and recovery actions with 36 of the original 42 actions now complete, although nine of the 10 actions included in this report have experienced delays. Four actions were completed in 2017–18. EMV led the development of the Emergency Management Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 which passed through Parliament in August 2018. The Bill amends the Emergency Management Act 2013 to establish new arrangements for emergency management planning in Victoria. The legislation includes a default commencement date of 1 December 2020.

MFB has progressed the procurement of personal monitoring equipment for firefighters and now anticipates that the equipment will be provided to them before the end of the 2018–19 financial year. CFA has developed a training video for fighting brown coal mine fires and is using it as the basis for developing other components of a brown coal firefighting training package. Training is expected to be rolled out towards the end of 2018. The Councils and emergencies position paper published by DELWP in December 2017 reviewed and defined the roles and responsibilities of local government in emergency management. DHHS completed development of a new payment system for the Personal Hardship Assistance Program (PHAP). The payments assist people who have been affected by a significant incident in Victoria.

Health improvement recommendations and affirmations

Significant progress has been made among health organisations to advance health projects within the Latrobe Valley. IGEM notes the commitment of the four principal health agencies in the Latrobe Valley, statutory authorities and non-government health agencies to supporting and promoting the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone. Projects that have been supported in 2017–18 include the development of Latrobe City Council’s Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, the ‘Pitch to Quit’ smoking cessation campaign, a Place-based Suicide Prevention Program, a dental voucher scheme, the ‘Life!’ diabetes awareness program and ‘Gippy Girls Can’ – an initiative to promote greater physical activity, gender equality and social connection in the Latrobe Valley.

Due to the ongoing nature of many of the affirmations, only one – Affirmation 9 – has been reported as complete in 2017–18. The Inner Gippsland Children and Youth Area Partnership has developed programs to protect vulnerable children and support access to education for children in out-of-home care. The partnership is working towards achieving a vision that children have the best opportunity to be developmentally on track when they start school.

Coal mine operators

In 2017–18, the Latrobe Valley coal mine operators continued to contribute to the Integrated Mines Research Group (IMRG) by attending regular meetings to discuss research outcomes. The Latrobe Valley Mines Commissioner promoted the research through engagement with the contributing academic groups and through a structured engagement program. The Integrated Mines Research Group Ten Year Research Plan is due to be reviewed in December 2019.

As outlined previously, the mine operators submitted work plan variations to DEDJTR which incorporate progressive rehabilitation milestones. As the work plan variations are yet to be approved by DEDJTR, mine operators continued to report on the total area of mine land they have rehabilitated.

ENGIE included a revised Mine Fire Service Policy in its work plan variation for the Hazelwood mine. One aim of the policy is to minimise the risks associated with fire at the mine. The policy states that it is to be reviewed annually – including input from independent experts – to ensure it continues to reflect best industry practice. DEDJTR approved ENGIE’s work plan variation for the Hazelwood mine in December 2017.

Concluding remarks

IGEM acknowledges the high level of cooperation and support received from Victorian Government departments and agencies, the coal mine operators and non-government entities in preparing this report. Both government and non-government agencies and organisations have been forthcoming in providing IGEM with demonstrations of systems and tools developed as part of the reforms. IGEM also appreciated the opportunity to attend committees, working groups, community events and meetings. These observations provide IGEM with context on the complexities and scope of actions and recommendations in this report.

Figure 1: Key:Victorian Government actions – summary of progress

70 Total actions: 246

68 Actions completed: 211

Theme actions completed Theme actions ongoing Sub-theme actions completed Sub-theme actions ongoing

Actions ongoing: 35

60

50

Number of government actions 40

30 40

34 42

31

20

10

5 15

11

0

Governance and Accountability Communications and Community Engagement

Communications during Emergencies White Paper Actions Community Engagement EPA Emergency Communications EPA Engagement with the Latrobe Valley Community Health Communications and Public Health Investigations

Health in the Latrobe Valley

Governance Engagement with the Commonwealth Prevention Early Detection and High Risk Screening Expanding Services for People with Multiple Chronic Conditions Mental Health Expanding Options To Access Specialist Services Aboriginal Health Long Term Health Study Ash in Roof Cavities

Air Quality and Wellbeing

Rapid Air Quality Monitoring State Smoke Framework Develop Integrated Predictive Services Framework Managing Exposure to Carbon Monoxide Community Smoke, Air Quality and Health Standard National Compliance Standard EPA Protocols EPA Meta-Analysis

Latrobe Valley Coal Mine Regulation Latrobe Valley Coal Mine Rehabilitation Bonds Latrobe Valley Regional Rehabilitation Strategy Emergency Management Planning, Response and Recovery

Industry Integration in Emergency Management Emergency Management Planning Emergency Management Training