Latrobe Valley mine rehabilitation kicks off

Traditional Owner groups and local nurseries will work with the Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority (MLRA) and the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) to establish the Gippsland Seed Bank which will cultivate the native flora.

“These important initiatives show how the MLRA is actively involved in the rehabilitation of the Latrobe Valley’s mines and ensuring the best future outcomes for the region,” Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said.

“TheGippsland native flora seed collection project will ensure the future demand for trees to be planted across former mining land can be met and Gunaikurnai cultural land values protected.”

Local Gippsland native nursery contractor Habitat Creations, located in Moe, will play host to the seed bank before the flora is ready to be planted on the former mine sites.

“The long-term work to rehabilitate mine sites provides us with an important opportunity to partner with Gunaikurnai communities and businesses to ensure that as transition continues, future landscapes are delivered through best practice, with and for the community,” Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said.

The MLRA will parter with the Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC-TiME) to explore solutions to the social and economic challenges of transitioning away from coal energy generation.