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ENGIE’s current plan to turn the old Hazelwood mine into an artificial ‘pit lake’ risks creating a toxic mess that’s unsafe for the community and could threaten the globally significant Gippsland Lakes.
Make sure ENGIE knows Victorians are paying attention, and expect them to get this right.
As the owners of the old Hazelwood coal mine, French energy giant ENGIE is responsible for cleaning up their mess. But their current plan to turn it into an artificial ‘pit lake’ prioritises cost-cutting over environmental and community protection.
The worst part is they want to flood the mine without even removing the toxic coal ash – which is full of harmful pollutants like mercury, cadmium and arsenic!
The water ENGIE wants to use would come at the expense of local rivers, and because of water flowing out and seeping into groundwater it could release toxic coal ash pollution and poison the Gippsland lakes downstream.
These lakes are Australia’s largest coastal lagoon system, an important drought refuge for waterbirds, and home to rare plants and animals, including the unique Burrunan dolphin. So we can’t afford to let ENGIE cut corners.
The RAMSAR listed Gippsland lakes, Australia’s largest coastal lagoon system.
The mine pit is so massive it would take at best 20 years to fill and this is the largest mine rehabilitation project our state has ever seen. But it’s clear ENGIE’s current plan prioritises cost-cutting over environmental and community protection.
That’s why we need to add your name and make sure they know thousands of Victorians are paying attention, and expect them to get this right.