Reaction to Vic mine fire inquiry
REACTION TO THE HAZELWOOD MINE FIRE INQUIRY REPORT:
Board of inquiry:
- Fire was foreseeable
- Health impacts are key consideration
- GDF Suez didn't take as many precautions as could to mitigate and reduce risk, but whether that could have avoided fire taking hold is unknown
Mine operator GDF Suez:
- Already undertaking vegetation removal program, work to enhance back-up power supply and training for personnel
Victorian government:
- Acknowledges that elements of the response could have been implemented more effectively
- Fully supports recommendations, but in-principle support for call for rapid air quality monitoring
- Working to improve approach to mine regulation, criticised by inquiry
Latrobe Valley residents:
- Disused parts of mine need to be properly rehabilitated; concrete timeline for remediation needed - Voices of the Valley president Wendy Farmer
- GDF Suez and government need to act quickly - Latrobe Valley Support Network president Simon Ellis
Environmental groups:
- Fire prevention steps a strong starting point but no specific recommendations to accelerate mine rehabilitation as way of protecting communities from future fires - Environment Victoria safe climate campaign manager Dr Nicholas Aberle
- No particular measures to make the mine safe and avoid a repeat - Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber
