Michelle Slater
New polling in the Latrobe Valley has revealed support for the need for state and federal governments to help communities and industries transition as coal plants close.
The YouGov poll was conducted for Environment Victoria and Nature Conservation Council NSW and surveyed 600 people in the Latrobe Valley and Hunter Valley.
The poll found nine out ten Latrobe Valley respondents agreed that the state government should ensure power station owners are responsible for rehabilitating sites as coal stations and mines close.
Eight out of ten respondents agreed that governments should support heavy industry to switch to affordable, renewable energy to support local manufacturing sectors.
Seven out of ten agreed that the state government should plan to retire power stations in the next decade – with support to retrain workers to be part of an economic future for the Latrobe Valley.
It also found 57 per cent of respondents supported an early closure of Loy Yang if there was a solid plan to look after workers.
Environment Victoria chief executive Jono La Nauze said the polling showed the community was “urgently” calling for Victoria to move towards renewables while supporting workers and communities.
It comes as the Australian Energy Market Operator had forecast Victorian coal-fired power stations could close by 2032 due to the rapid uptake of renewables.
Mr La Nauze also called the state government to extend Latrobe Valley Authority funding beyond mid-2022 until the last power station closed and to help the community transition.
“It’s time for our governments to step up and show they are serious about developing the new industries and technologies that will create new jobs in these communities and enable all Victorians to reap the benefits of a transition to clean, renewable energy,” Mr La Nauze said.
Loy Yang operator and community advocate Tony Wolfe said power station owners had “irreversibly changed the landscape” while collecting massive financial rewards.
“The Latrobe Valley community deserves to have our land returned in pristine condition, and the state government needs to ensure sufficient training and support for displaced workers so they can convert to the new clean energy industries,” Mr Wolfe said.
Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas said the state government had invested almost $2 billion and contributed more than 4000 additional jobs in the region since 2014.
“We’ve always backed Latrobe Valley workers, their families and the community – and we always will,” Ms Thomas said.
“Workers are at the heart of our long-term response to Yallourn’s closure, and we’ll deliver dedicated support developed in consultation with the workforce, unions and the local community.”
