Master of Landscape Architecture Thesis, Haoyang Wang

BIRTH FROM THE SCAR Transforming Morwell Opencut site to a performative tourism based territory

The University of Melbourne Master of Landscape Architecture Thesis Semester one 2022

BIRTH FROM THE SCAR Transforming Morwell Opencut site to a livable rural area and performative tourism based territory

Student Name: Haoyang Wang, Johnny 1139660

Supervisor: Dr Sidh Sintusingha

Subject : Master of Landscape Architecture Design Thesis Semester1, 2021

Faculty: Faculty of Architecutre Building and Planning The University of Melbourne

Acknowledgement of Country We live and work on the unceded lands of the Boon Wurrung and Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) people of the Kulin Nation. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, as well as to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Many Thanks to: My dear supervisor Dr. Sidh Sintusingha and stuffs from the faculty who helped me to bring my ideas into a comprehensive and ambitious project.

PREFACE The global movement towards renewable energies and the biggest energy consumer China’s ban on Australian coal strongly impacted on the local mining industry, resulting in reduction of exports and permanent shutdown of the mine sites .According to the latest data record on labour forces by Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the workers in the mining industry declined significantly by 1500 from November 2020 to February 2021. In addition, at the forefront of global climate change, all the countries aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate neutral world by the mid 21st century. “ It’s important torealise Australia can no longer ignore the need to move away from coal as customers commit to reducing emissions.” Reported by ABC News.

Recent research indicates there are more than 60000 mine sites permanently closed due to a range of economic and political reasons, only a few of the previous mine sites have been fully rehabilitated. The post-mine sites emit hazard dusts strongly impact on the local community health, the open-cuts cause remarkable damage on the habitats and ecological species. The towns that previously rely on the mining industry are now seeking for economic and naturalistic transformations.

The site has been chosen for design exploration in this thesis locate Morwell town, Latrobe Valley, Gippsland where mining landscapes transformation has been discussed in this region for years. Design institutions in Australia used the mining sites to run design competitions for ideas and knowledge contributions. Latrobe valley is known as the Victoria’s mining capital over past centuries. With the largest reserve of Brown coal in the state, coal mining industry offered countless job and economic opportunities for generations for local citizens and new immigrants. However, all the coal power stations and coal mine sites will be closed by 2030, leading to the uncertainties for the mining town’s future.

Morwell Mining pit Image by near map

BIRTH FROM THE SCAR Transforming Morwell Opencut site to a performative tourism based territory

PART ONE: BACKGROUND STORIES 1.1 HISTORY OF THE LAND 1.2 THE MORWELL OPEN CUT FIRE 1.3 THE DECOMMISSION OF POWER STATION 1.4 INTERVIEW WITH THE PREVIOUS WORKERS BY ABC 1.5 MISSION STATEMENT 1.6 GLOSSARIES OF THEORY

Image: Morwell Power Station

The University of Melbourne Image source : Getty Image Master ofEdited Landscape Architecture Thesis

by Johnny Wang Semester one 2022

1.1 HISTORY OF THE LAND Befor the british settlers, the region was the traditional territory of Gunai and Kurnai people covered by millions years old forests the land provided food and natrual resources for the traditional owners for years. Through the postcolonial era the land experienced land divisions lead toward the emergence of diverse industry such as mining, textile, farming and grazing.

The region has long history of deforestation and industrialization, the natural forest almost totally vanished. As the colonizer destroying the land, there were several sever fire and flooding in Latrobe valley. The Morwell open cut was burned down by

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wild fire lasted for 4 weeks, causing environmental damage. A few years after that the Power Station decommissioned. As a result of long-term mining activity, the sizes of those mining pits are equivalent to one point five Melbourne CBD. The mining sites causing habitat disconnection and dusts pollution to the surrounding town. There are three major mining sites in Latrobe valley: Loyang, Yallourn and Morwell all of the mining pits will be decommissioned by 2030 leaving remarkable damage to the habitats and local enviornment .

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1.2 THE OPEN CUT FIRE The Hazelwood mine fire began from 9 February 2014 to March continued for 4 weeks. The open-cut fire was caused by a nearby bushfire that swept across the state during that period that led to sever damage and economic loss.

The catastrophic fire released large amounts of toxic smokes and gases that impacted on the adjacent towns of Latrobe Valley, causing complains of serious health problems from the surrounding local residents. Among the reported health damage including chest pain, headaches, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Many local business owners and school children were forced to relocate during the disaster to avoid further health damage.

This bushfire was particullarly difficult to take under control since it spread to a coal field. There wasn’t many past experiences and advices from the authority and experts about controlling the coal mine fire. There were more than 7000 fire fighters from CFA, mine owners and environmental agencies fighting against the fire using water and foam to cool the fiery coals during that 45 day nightmare. After the fire under control, the estimated the total damages to more than $100 million dollars.

According to research by Monash University. The research investigated that after six month of the mine fire, the overall death rates of the region turned slightly higher, particularly in seniors over 80 years old. There were 26 death cases discovered directly relates to the toxic gases and ashes that came from the mine fire. The study also indicates a sharp decline on the lung health rates measured by NAPLAN scores, the data widely applied to learn about the impact of COVID-19. The authorities are now taking responsibility to fund the local residents and take care of their daily health, in addition the responsibility also fall on the shoulders of town planners and landscape architects to create a more healthier living environment for the community to get recovered from the painful past.

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Hazelwood Open mine fire Image by ABC News

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Hazelwood Open mine fire Image by ABC News

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Hazelwood Open mine fire Image by ABC News

Images of the News report

1.3 THE SHUTTING DOWN OF THE HAZELWOOD POWER STATION Shortly after the Hazelwood open-cut fire, the owner of the Hazelwood power station announced the closure of the power station in 2015 after 50 years of supplying electricity to Victorian towns. The announcement ignited discussion on the uncertain future of the town. The shutting down of the power station led to many uncertainties of the local employment and economic income since coal electricity has been the major production of the region. The owner announced that the open cut will be re-habituated and turn into a lake for tourism attraction, however the planning proposal wasn’t well detailed to convince the local communities especially for hundreds of workers who have contributed to the local energy industry for many decades. According to the ABC news report, there were senses of panic among the local public, many of the workers and business owners moved out the town to seek for new life, many of them are aiming to get other certifications. The town is now currently not only facing environmental issues but economic decline and shrinking population.

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Hazelwood power station demolition Image by ABC News

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Hazelwood power station demolition Image by ABC News

1.4 INTERVIEW WITH THE PREVIOUS WORKERS BY ABC Jason Sumner, from Traralgon, had his last shift in June after working three years at the station. He said it had been a strange experience continuing to work in the station after it stopped generating power in March.

“It’s sort of been a bit demoralising actually. You go in, the place is eerily quiet but also none of our old mates are around and sometimes you spend a shift not speaking to another person for 12 hours. So yeah it’s pretty tough sometimes.”

Mr Sumner has been spending full-time hours each week, applying for jobs. He has had a couple of job interviews.

“The future is a bit unknown, I’m sure I’ll find work eventually — hopefully it’s here in the Valley,” he said.

Job hunting: Jason Sumner

Mr Fox finished working at the mine at the end of March. He has retired and is now spending more time volunteering with the State Emergency Service. He and his wife have also just bought a caravan, and plan on spending some time somewhere slightly warmer than Gippsland.

It’s only been about two months, so we’ll just see what happens in the future, if I get bored.

“I was going to retire in about two years time anyway, so it just bought my plans forward. It’s probably worked out well for someone my age.” Mr Fox said there were parts of the job he missed.

Happily retired: Ray Fox

“I miss catching up with my workmates. We had quite a few laughs, and had some good times at work. That’s the part I miss. I don’t miss the night shifts on the long cold nights when it’s raining and freezing.”

From power generation, to sound production, may sound like quite a progression to some, but for Mr Boothman it is a natural fit.

He is a member of a couple of Latrobe Valley bands, and his recent work writing and performing ‘the Hazelwood song’ has made him something of a local legend.

The song begins with the line, ‘For many years she produced our power, a beacon in her time. The power she made would light the way, in your house and in mine.’

The song was well received by Hazelwood workers, and the community more broadly.

Retraining: Danny Boothman

Despite years of performing in Gippsland, Mr Boothman admits ‘it’s a bit daunting’ thinking about his immediate future as a full-time student.

“I look at the mind as being a bit of a sponge, you should try and fill it with as much information, or rubbish, as you can.

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1.5 MISSION STATEMENT The Morwell Open-cut (also know as the Hazelwood opencut )locate 80 km South east from Melbourne. This research project will use Hazelwood open cut which sits next to the Morwell town as a testing field to explore an alternative practice to transform the excavated ground into a post mining tourism territory that contributes to the local economy.

The Morwell open cut decommissioned after a catastrophic bushfire in 2014, by 2022 all the surrounding industrial facilities has been fully demolished. The community worried about their future generation due to the loss of its supporting mining industry, and many of the previous mine site workers moved out to more affordable places. The re-habitation program currently operating by French energy company ENGIE aims to fill the pit with water from Latrobe river. However, the proposal raised concerns from an environmental perspective, the authorities argued it will take decades long and damage the downstream catchment. Furthermore, the proposal disabled possibilities to bring more potential economic and social benefits to the local residents.

There are constrains towards the post mining site management. Including lack of fundings and knowledge contribution from other professionals. The alternative practice toward the post mining site promotes collaborative management and co-creation by different segments of the local society. From single-dimensional habitation work operating by energy companies to multiple skate holder management models to attract investments and findings overtime.

The process will adopt a schematic design strategy over 80 years involving different local communities, investors, and authorities. From the aspect of landscape, the project acknowledges the power of natural succession and uniqueness of open cut terrain. The future history of the site will represent a cycle of development; each phase will open up new ecological aesthetics and programmatic possibilities, and gradually fund by the project itself. The project deals with duration, process, and transformation, shifting functionality to adapt to natural succession stages and tourism demands over time.

By the end of the process, the project will offer a series of meaningful tourism programs and unique spatial experiences. that indicates the optimal transformation method of a post-mining open cut that potentially become a replicable solution towards other decommissioned ining sites in the Latrobe Valley Region.

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Image by Climate Action Moreland Hazelwood Power Station Protest

1.6 GLOSSARIES OF THEORY Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the strategy for contaminated substances treatment that inludes water soil and differnet landscape materials, by changing the substances’ conditions to help the growth of microorganisms and eliminate the ontaminations. The cases of Bioremediation can be seen in the recovery of post industrial areas such as oil spills, mining sites, quarries and landfills

Ecological restoration

Restoration is a process of recovering destroyed or damaged habitat by human activities. The dynanism of habitat includes the movement of species, seasonal growth and climatic event. Ecological restoration engages with the shifting of habitata and ecological conditions, recovering the land towards pre existing conditions.

Natrual succession

Ecological succession is the process of emerging complexities by different species and habitat in an area. Gradually, these communities of species envolve to “climax community” like forests, desert wetlands and bushlands. Disturbance like a fire, floods occurs over time.

Ecological corridor

A wildlife corridor is a link of wildlife habitat, generally native vegetation, which joins two or more larger areas of similar wildlife habitat. Corridors are critical for the maintenance of ecological processes including allowing for the movement of animals and the continuation of viable populations. (P)

Community Involvement

Community involvement is the power to bring people together to make considerable changes. In this project it represents the collaboration between differnt people and authorities getting involved to create better future of their living enviornment .

Open ended prrocess

In this project , it means having no time limits of the project development progress or directions. The communities are getting involved during the progress of development . The communities will be able to negotiate to decide the future of the Hazelwood opencut so the design will be flexible and adaptable over different period in accordance to their demands of ecnomic and social benifits.

Relationship

The relationship represents a dialogue between people and people and people with their place . It communicates the sence of connection between different groups of the community in different ways and spatial experience that enhancing the sence of place and sence of belonings

Cultrual regeneration

The approach hat has been widely adopted in landscape urbanism that consists the meaning of one or multiple cultural regeneration. It means restoring or improving the quality of urban or rurual life through enhancement of cultrual and enviornmental characteristics of a perticular place and its people. In this project, it may potentially be food, farming and grazing culture for instance but not limited.

Landscape Territory

In a broad sense, it means an area of land or a region dominated by authorities in addition it represents a geographic location , such as a country or a region that is dependent on a top down government. However in this project it means a place that demonstrates a unique cultrual and ecological identity and providing people with a sense of freedom and sence of welcoming. Offering ranges of program possibilities.

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REGIONAL ANALYSIS XL 2.1 CONTEXT SPATIAL ANALYSIS 2.2 REGIONAL PRODUCTION AND POPULATION GROWTH RATE 2.3 ENERGY PRODUCTION RATE AND FUTURE TRANSFORMATION

Image: context analysis Data source: Vic Data Mart Edited by Johnny Wang

2.1 EVC The map illustrates the existing distribution of significant ecological patches, the area used to be a native forest before the colonial time, the mining activity and expansion of the agricultural land resulted in mass deforestation in the region. Now the ecological patches are fragmented. Lack of vegetation cover caused arid climate and bush fire under extreme climatic condition.

Datasource: Victoria Data Mart 11

2.1 AGRICULTURE The major agriculture products of Latrobe Valley are meats and dairy products. The region is covered by large area of modified pasture land that requires irrigation. The area of cropping and vegetable production only occupy less than 5 percent of the overall agriculture land. The soil will be no longer productive as the pasture grass run out.

Datasource: Victoria Data Mart 12

2.1 FORESTRY AND PLANTATION The region is the center for papermill production in Victoria.

Some areas of the forests are highly modified and lack of species diversity. There are only a few forests with naturalistic feature close to the open cut. The Now the ecological patches are fragmented due to unlimited farming and mining activities.

There will be future challenges to bring more biodiversity to reagitate the open cut unless the green spaces get reconnected.

Datasource: Victoria Data Mart 13

2.1 DWELLING DISTRIBUTION The Open cut sits adjacent to the urban area Morwell town.

There four significant towns in Latrobe Valley Traralgon, Maryvile, Morvel and Lara. Those towns are lack of attractive green open spaces and outdoor amenities. In the future transformation of the Morwell open cut, it will create potential outdoor activity center for the connected towns.

Datasource: Victoria Data Mart 14

2.1 FLOODING There was several significant flooding happened back in 1950s and 1980s, the 1950s one was the most extreme which flooded the whole Yallurn open cut at the north of Morwell open cut. Morwell open cut sits right next to the Latrobe river impacted by flooding for several time over the past few decades. The solution in the future need to cope with flooding under the extreme climatic condition.

Datasource: Victoria Data Mart 15

2.1 PUBLIC TRNASPORT There are two major types of public transport, Bus and trains the surrounding town is connected by regional buses network, and the Vline train connects the Morwell town to melbourne and the rest of the gippsland towns.

Datasource: Victoria Data Mart 16

2.1 MINING INDUSTRY There are two major types of public transport, Bus and trains the surrounding town is connected by regional buses network, and the Vline train connects the Morwell town to Melbourne and the rest of the Gippsland towns.

Datasource: Victoria Data Mart 17

Hardwood plantation and Forest production

Riveredge and wetland habitats

Farming and grazing Agriculture

Mining open cuts

Water areas and rivers

Highways

Datasource: https://app.remplan.com.au/latrobe/economy/summary?state=dM0XcZG6vSgdx24UQjb2OLH4HXHED5 18

2.2 REGIONAL PRODUCTION AND POPULATION GROWTH RATE The City has traditionally been recognised as the centre of Victoria’s electricity industry, which is derived from one of the largest brown coal reserves in the world. The annual population growth rate is below the average of regional victoria. It is also the centre of a large forestry industry which services Australian Paper’s pulp and paper mill (the largest in Australia) and other sawmills.

Other industries in the area include food processing (Lion - Morwell), engineering, post-secondary education with the new Federation University Australia and the service sector. Being the largest population centre in the Gippsland region, Latrobe City acts as the regional headquarters for Government agencies and private operators including banks and insurance companies.

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2.3 ENERGY PRODUCTION RATE AND FUTURE TRANSFORMATION The diagram shows a regional energy production trendency from 1999 to 2022. Coal mining and electricity production has been the major industries since last century. As the global movement toward the renewable energy production, all the power stations in latrobe valley will be closed by 2030. There are 7 major powerstations distribute around the existing opencut. They are Loy Yang powerstation A and B, Jeeralang A and B, Yallourn power station , Morwell Power station and Hazelwood power station. Before 2020 Hazelwood and Morwel were shutted down, otheres will be closed by 2023. The production trendency and economic turnover indicates a sharp decline from 2020 to 2021. The windfarm will start construction in 2020 and completed by 2023 and supply renewable electric energy to the surrounding town.

Datasource: https://osmi.com.au/delburn-wind-farm-introduction/ https://opennem.org.au/energy/nem/?range=7d&interval=30m

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SITE SCALE ANALYSIS L 3.1 EXISTING LANDFORM 3.2 GROUND COVER FEATURES 3.3 EXISTING LAND PLANNING 3.4 EXISTING CIRCULATION

Image: Morwell Opencut Arial Image Image source : Nearmap Edited by Johnny Wang

Image by ABC NEWS Morwell Opencut Bottom

Image by ABC NEWS Morwell Opencut taken over by ecological communities

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3.1 EXISTING LANDFORM The average depth of the open cut is nearly 100 m deep, the terracing down cliffs along the edge are 20 m to 30 m drop and the width area is around the same. The ground at the bottom of the mining pit is mostly flat. There are five colling ponds at the bottom of the open cut connected to the aquifer under the coal layer. In the future the evaporation of the future due to arid weather will cause soil salinity issues at the base of the mining pit.

Datasource: Victoria Data Mart 24

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3.2 GROUND COVER FEATURES The map demonstrates several types of ground cover; there are still large areas of coal remaining on the site that cover most of the flat bottom ground at the western side and on the excavated terraces. The soil in the pit is mostly clay and sandy soil which is hard for plants to survive. The tree patches are mostly insignificant and fragmented. The surrounding of the cut is mostly covered with native grasses and modified pasture lands.

Datasource: Victoria Data Mart 26

Datasource: Victoria Data Mart 27

3.3 EXISTING LAND PLANNING The highway separated the site with the town, which is currently almost inaccessible directly from the urban area. There are still demolished powerstation wreckage on the site to be removed in the future, and there are several small scale cooling ponds on the site disconnected to the surrounding hydro system which will dry out in the future to become salinity grounds.

The plot of industrial land is surrounded by modified pasture land; there are only two significant woodlands and a wetland close to the site.

Datasource: Victoria Data Mart 28

Datasource: Victoria Data Mart 29

3.4 EXISTING CIRCULATION At the moment the open cut is still owned by French Energy company engie, the surrounding of the mining pit is fenced off. The landscape formed circulation routes by itself on each mining terraces and through the original road connected to each previous power station and other industrial functions.

Datasource: Victoria Data Mart 30

PRECEDENTS ANALYSIS 4.1 ROCKIN CA QUARRY PARK 4.2 SHANGHAI QUARRY PARK 4.3 KAJU YAKTA SKYWALK 4.4 THE EDEN PROJECT

Image: Shanghai Quarry Park Images source: News China Edited by Johnny Wang

4.1 ROCKlIN CA QUARRY PARK Keywords: Experiential programs , geology aethetics, high economy, open ended process.

Located in Rocklin California USA, the park design took a method of transforming the previous quarry site to a challenger’s park. The parkland consists of geological aesthetics which look like natural formation. Taking the advantage of quarry terrain, the park developed a series of programs including: rock climbing, boating, freefall, and ziplines. Those programs offer meaningful and enjoyable experiences that contribute to a part of the local tourism. The management and development of the project involved local communities and investors. The ownership of the site diversified to maximise ideas and investments contribution.

The development plan of the parkland was divided into several stages, one of the other. Through different periods, the program keeps making profits for the development of the next stage. Through the process the project tends to be funded by itself, and significantly increases its program and experience diversity. By the end, it became a significant stopping point for outdoor adventure , co-managed by investors from different social segments, offering job opportunities for the local residents .

Freefall platform

Ziplines

Overview of the whole project

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4.2 PRECEDENTS: SHANGHAI QUARRY PARK Keywords: Natrual succession, cultrual regeneration, bioremediation, spatial narrative The quarry garden is located in the centre of Chenshan Botanical garden in Shanghai. As a part of the botanic garden master plan. The quarry site offers unique opportunities to learn about geological processes and experience the extremeness of the spectacular landscape. The elevated walking trail guide the tourists through different interesting features and attractions.

Structures and amenities built with recycled steels and existing stones build connections to the past history of the site, the lookouts enhanced spatial scales and atmospheric experiences of the place.

After the completion of the quarry garden, the project became the name card for Shanghai.

It’s ability of becoming a tourism attraction was shown by ecological succession process and quarry site excavation culture regeneration . It’s difficult to build an almost inaccessible quarry site into a tourism hotspot approaching extreme and natural experience . It challenges the aesthetic impression of the dangerous quarry site to a semi-natural landscape that engages with time and natural progress . Acknowledging the power of nature and existing geological features.

Spatial experience

Project master plan by the designer

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4.3 KAJU YAKTA SKYWALK Keywords: Experiential programs , geology aethetics, cultrual landscape , natrual herritage The skywalk project was developed one the natural heritage land of indeginous territory.

Located on a natural cliff shaped by geological changes, this project acknowledges the significance of the natural heritage, enhancing the passive story of the land by designing elevated steel lookouts and trails leading the tourists into various ecological and geological attractions.

The project engages with spatial narratives and each attraction will unpack stories of the traditional land owners.

The tourism center

The form and structure of the project is highly valuable as a precedent for a post mining pit to reference. After the natural succession process with desert and drought tolerant plants. The condition of the land will look natural as thousands of years of ecological and geological formation . The hazelwood mining pit development may potentially replicate the experiences of Kaju Yakta, offerieng tourists service and meaningful navigation through the cultrual post industrial landscape.

Bush walk

Skywalk lookouts

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4.4 THE EDEN PROJECT Keywords: Renewable energies, educational programs, climatic landscapes, planting design , future landscapes The Eden project in the UK was invested in by highend infrastructure developers. Built on the previous mining pit. The Eden Project involves a variety of education programs focusing on the identities of plants; different plants labelled with the potential uses .Both in the indoor and the exterior environments. However, a huge amount of water is needed to create the humid climatic condition that simulates tropical conditions in the cabinet and serve for different facilities. The water was collected from rain water from the bottom of the mining pit.

Rain forests tour in the cabinet

The founder of the project illustrated the vision of the future world powered by renewable energies. However , it’s not achievable in the context of the Hazelwood post mining town. Since there won’t be enough budget and resources to maintain such a highly programmed project . The education programs of vegetation can be incorporated as part of the development strategies as the initial stage, to sell the vision of the mining pit’s future. In order to gain more fundings and public’s attentions.

Overlook of the project

Overlook of the project

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PROPOSALS AND CRITICISM 5.1 PROPOSAL BY ENGIE 5.2 REHABITATION PROJECT FAILURE

Image: Hunters valley rehabitation project Images source: Look the gate Edited by Johnny Wang

5.1 THE PROPOSAL BY SITE OWNER ENGIE COMPANY

Image: Morwell Opencut rehabitation Image source: ENGIE Edited by Johnny Wang The coal mine owner engie has submitted its plan to trun the Hazelwood opwn cut into a lake fillled by water from Latrobe river and Hazelwood cooling pond. “A Victorian Government report has cast doubt on whether it will be possible to turn all three Latrobe Valley open cut coal mines into lakes when they close. Since October last year the Government has been considering a proposal to use water from the Latrobe River system to fill the mines and turn them into lakes.” “The proposal attracted criticism from Central Gippsland farmers who use the river for irrigation, as well as environmentalists who fear drawing large amounts of water from the river could damage the environment.” “Victorian Resources Minister Jaclyn Symes said it was going to be “very, very difficult” to turn the three mines into full lakes.” “That’s why it’s important to make sure that we’re looking at alternative forms of rehabilitation, making sure that we are looking at alternative sources of water,” she said. “How much water the three [mines] will use, whether two of them need water, one doesn’t, are all open for further consultation and development as we go along

5.2 REHABITATION PROJECT FAILURE HUNTER VALLEY

Image: Hunter Valley coal mine Image source: ABC News Edited by Johnny Wang “Coal mining companies in the Hunter Valley have failed to set aside enough money to fill in their massive voids or maintain the vegetation required to restore the landscape once their mines come to the end of their lives.” “Japanese trading giant Idemitsu has fallen well short in its efforts to replant pasture and woodlands on its Muswellbrook Coal mine in the Upper Hunter, with insufficient topsoil and a poor choice of species being replanted, a report obtained by the Herald shows.” “A report to be released by the Australia Institute on Thursday has found filling in the region’s 23 mine voids would cost between $11.5 billion and $25.3 billion, based on the stated costs per hectare of four mines in the Upper Hunter.” “By comparison, the NSW government holds just $3.3 billion in bonds to meet the rehabilitation costs of all mines across the state.”“Rod Campbell, a research director at the Australia Institute, said the mine owners won’t be able to afford to “clean up the mess they leave behind”, leaving the public to pick up the tab.”“The voids that the Hunter will be left with represent a multi-billion dollar subsidy to multinational coal companies, one that will be borne by future generations living in the Hunter,” the authorities said

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DESIGN TACKTICKS AND SCHEMATICS 6.1 COLLABORATION STRUCTURE 6.2 COMMUNITY BENIFITS 6.3 NATRUAL SUCCESSION SPECIES 6.4 PROJECT SCHEMATICS 6.5 NATRUAL SUCCESSION STAGES

Image: Morwell Opencut Arial Image Image source : Nearmap Edited by Johnny Wang

6.1 COLLABORATION STRUCTURE

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The complexity of the ground condition of the mining pit requires the combination of different fields of knowledge in the development of each phase. Those fields of knowledge include planning policy, environment administration, resources management, economic assessment, design and construction. Each group of stakeholders will collaborate and run consultation sessions with the community to decide the possible shift of the land function over different periods 37

6.2 COMMUNITY BENIFIT

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Through the collaborative development process the local community will benefit from all different aspects in terms of better living environment, improved economic model, sharing of different fields of knowledge, new community and culture formation, and ecological benefits. The stakeholder and community will be able to collaborate more tightly to ensure the willingness of each group of the community to be well addressed as well as their future generations . The multi organisation and co-creation between will help to attract more fundings and knowledge contribution from various social segments.

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6.3 NATRUAL SUCCESSION SPECIES

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Due to lack of fundings and an arid environment in the future .

The selection of plants referenced the lists of native indeginous grasses and shrubs and those salt and drought plants. By doing this , the economic and time input of rehabilitation will be significantly decreased. Those plants require minimum effort to maintain since they will be able to adapt to different soil conditions. By the end of the natural reclamation process, the mining pit will become a semi drought landscape occupied by those plants. The succession period can take up to 50 to 60 years for the pit to become a unique patch.

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6.4 PROJECT SCHEMATICS

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6.5 NATRUAL SUCCESSION STAGES The initial stage of mining pit reclamation will be completed by the current site owner ENGIE. The planting buffer will be proposed at the interface between the roads and the open cut. Due to the harsh ground condition, drought and salt tolerant plants will be planted in the buffer. The seeds will be spreaded by the site’s whole year North and West wind and ground water flow towards the mining pit. Other wildlife species including birds will also help seed spreading . Through several decades the mining pit will gradually be taken over by nature, forming a unique arid habitat patch.

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PHASE ONE: THE GATEWAY PARK 7.1 COMMUNITY ACTIONS 2023-2025 7.2 MASTER PLAN 7.3 THE GATEWAYPARK DIAGRAM 7.4 VISUALIZATION

Image: Phase one community hall Edited by Johnny Wang

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7.2 PHASE ONE GATEWAY PARK PLAN

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7.3 GATEWAY PARK DIAGRAM

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The initial stage of the parkland development will be created through the process of community consultation voting and collaborative creation between authorities and publics, addressing the rising voices of handing the sites ownership back to the local citizen. The gateway project connects the past mining history with the future naturalistic transformation. The funding will potentially come from the site’s owner, local NGOs and Parks Victoria. The purpose of this project is to offer a display of the mining pit’s future potential transformation inorder to raise wider public and tourists interests and raise fundings from community and future investors.

7.4 GATEWAY PARK VISUALIZATIONS

REHABILITATION DISPLAY AND MINING EARTH WALL Mines and dust will be casted into the rammed earth wall expressing the historical narrative and enrich materiality experience in space . The display of the rehabilitation plants offers aesthetic and educative experience that illustrates the potential future mines site environment.

NEW COMMUNITY HALL New community hall at the previous gateway house will be built with recycled bricks from the demolition site. Offering work space for the project operators and community meeting events.

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PUBLIC COMMON GROUND The public middle ground functions as event space in the circumstances of public speech, cultural performance and consultation. The gathering space for public and potential investors to communicate , learn and idea sharing. The existing mining vehicle will be built to offer post industrial amenity.

INDUSTRIAL ARTEFACTS DISPLAY The mining artefacts display ground will potentially become a tourism attraction that communicates the long industrial history of the region. And raise public awareness of the economic transformation of the mining region.

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PHASE TWO: THE EXPERIENTIAL TRIAL 8.1 COMMUNITY ACTIONS 2030-2035 8.2 EXPERIENTIAL TRAIL PLAN 8.3 EXPERIENTIAL TRAIL DIAGRAM 8.4 VISUALIZATION

Image: The experiential trail Edited by Johnny Wang

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8.2 PHASE TWO: EXPERIENTIAL TRIALS PLAN

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8.3 PHASE TWO: EXPERIENTIAL TRIALS DIAGRAM

The second phase of public program expansion will be developed along with the natural succession progress. The trial allows the public to experience the natural progression and shifts of habitat conditions across decades. The trial offers rich material and visual experience. Recognizing the powerful cliff and dust landscape and ever changing contrast between the mining pit and natural succession ground.

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8.4 PHASE TWO: EXPERIENTIAL TRIALS VISUALIZATION

THE NATURAL SUCCESSION TOUR The trial to be built with recycled steel and timber decking, maximising the accessibility to different user groups. Providing meaningful and educational experience. The angular winding path way directs the public to different interests and viewpoints.

MINING PIT LOOKOUT ONE The lookout offers spetacular view of the powerful barren mining pit, situate at the interface between the upencut and the natrual succession area. Offering rich material and visual experience and closer view of the mining pit

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THE NATURAL SUCCESSION TOUR The bending angle along the trail edge offers areas for people to sit and feel the ever changing atmosphere and micro climates produced by rehabilitation plants and native indeginous grasses.

MINING PIT LOOKOUT ONE The lookout offers spetacular view of the powerful barren mining pit, situate at the interface between the upencut and the natrual succession area. Offering rich material and visual experience and closer view of the mining pit

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PHASE THREE: THE EXPERIENTIAL TRIAL 9.1 SLOPE DEGREE AND PROGRAM POTENTIALS 9.2 COMMUNITY ACTION 2035-2045 9.3 2035-2045 CYCLING TRIAL PROGRAM 9.4 COMMUNITY ACTION 2045-2055 9.5 2045-2055 EXTREME CYCLING , WALKING TRIAL 9.6 COMMUNITY ACTION 2055-2065 9.7 PHASE FIVE THE CHALLENGERS PARK PLAN 9.9 POST 2065 RECYCLED MATERIAL PLAYGROUND

Image: The playground Edited by Johnny Wang

9.1 PHASE THREE: SLOPE DEGREES AND PROGRAM POTENTIALS

Regarding the complexity of the landform, in the next phase of the program development, the authorities and investors will be invited to assess different areas of the mining pit in order to come up with the best solution for each slope area.

For the middle flatground, playgrounds, climbing structures , and cycling programs will be proposed. The slight slope areas will be perfect for extreme cycling and slow walking trials expansion. The steep slope areas will develop programs like cliff climbing , slides and climbing mesh. Each areas will be assessed for the suitability of different extreme and public amenity programs

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9.3 2035- 2045 CYCLING TRAIL AND BIKE SHARE PROGRAM

From 2035 - 2045 the natural succession areas gradually extend towards the inner mining pit. In order to serve for the increasing demand for ecotourism, the slow riding bike trail will be invested by bike share companies, offering shared bike service , the trail creates connection and circulation from top of the pit to the bottom barren ground. The cycle trial designed to avoid steep slope. Offering comfortable slow riding experience through the various zoning of natural succession areas and connects to the existing mining vehicle trials .The cycling program will gradually become popular, the tourists will help to advertise for the program on social media that uncovers further program development.

BIKE SERVICE STATION 59

SLOW CYCLING T

DOWN TO THE B

TRIAL DOWN THE SLOPE

BOTTOM

SLOW CYCLER LOOP 60

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9.5 2045- 2055 EXTREME CYCLING AND WALKING TRIAL EXPANSION

From 2045 to 2055 the natural succession gradually reaches the bottom ground where it has the potential for further public program development. With the business success of the slow riding trial around the valley. The feature of the mining terrain uncovers the potential for extreme cycling program development. The structures are designed to offer exciting cycling experience on the slope and on the middle ground. The walking trail extended from the lookout to the bottom of the pit, offering various experiences of habitat zonenings and geological features .

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WALKING TRIAL EXPANSION

EXTREME CY

YCLING SLOPE

KIDS CYCLING PLAYMENT AREA

WALKING TRIAL EXPANSION

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9.7 PHASE FIVE: THE CHALLENGERS PARK PLAN As the previous phases uncovered unlimited potentials of the mining pit transformation increased the demand for extreme program tourism and cycling tours around the powerful landscape. The project will be invested by extreme sports and bike sharing program developers. This stage of the development takes 30 years as the project is gradually funded by itself from ticket selling and bike renting. The final outcome of the park offers ranges of sports and payment facilities developed with the natural succession stages. After 2065 the park will change the name to challenger park. offering programs of cycling trial, camping grounds , playgrounds and Zipline . The amenity complex will contribute to the local economy by attracting different tourist groups.

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9.8 2055- 2065 EXTREME PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

From 2055-2065, as an increasing number of tourists come in , the design intends to take advantage of the powerful landscape features including steep cliffs and vast openness of the middle ground. After new investor of extreme program development. The extremeness of the place can be fully explored by zipline , climbing structure and climbing mesh. More tourists are attracted by the exciting experience. The project gradually raises funding by itself by ticket selling and campground that uncover further program potentials and contribute to the local economy .

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ZIPLINE TOWER

CLIMBING S

STRUCTURE

TOURISTS SERVICE AREA

CLIMBING MESH

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9.9 POST 2065 RECYCLED MATERIAL PLAYGROUND

After 2065, as an increasing number of tourists come in , the design intends to offer more meaningful play opportunities for the families with kids by using an industrial playground using geological materials in the mining pit and recycled material from the demolition site. The playground will offer opportunities for kids to engage the passage story of the mining town by climbing , jumping, digging and touching. The natural bush and grasses interplanted on the play area providing visual aesthetics and shading areas.

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MINING MATERIAL PLAYGROUND

RECYCLED MATERIAL PLAYGROUND

FLYING PLATFORM

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DESIGN DIAGRAMS

SKATEHOLDER BENIFITS

SECTION

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10.1 REFERENCES Monacella, R. (2016). FUTURE MORWELL | FUTURE LATROBE VALLEY [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 1-240). Melbourne: RMIT University.

Retrieved from https://www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/City/The_Region/Future_Morwell Fletcher, M. (2010). Latrobe City Heritage Study [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 1-82). Latrobe City: Latrobe City Council. Retrieved from https://www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-04/LHS%20vol%203%20-%20Heritage%20Place%20%26%20precinct%20citations%20July10.PDF Johnston, C. (2019). Latrobe Valley Social History [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 1-15). Latrobe City: Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. Retrieved from https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/466050/LatrobeSocialHistory-WebsiteVersion-updated.pdf

Resources, E. (2022). MINE REHABILITATION [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 1-50). Latrobe City: Latrobe city. Retrieved from https://earthresources.vic.gov.au/community-and-land-use/rehabilitation

Mattiske, A. (2016). Mine rehabilitation in the Australian minerals industry [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 5-30). Sydney: Minerals Council of Australia. Retrieved from https://www.minerals.org.au/sites/default/files/MCA%20Publications/Mine%20rehabilitation%20 in%20the%20Australian%20minerals%20industry%2025%20Feb%202016.PDF

Mattiske, A. (2016). Mine rehabilitation in the Australian minerals industry [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 5-30). Sydney: Minerals Council of Australia. Retrieved from https://www.minerals.org.au/sites/default/files/MCA%20Publications/Mine%20rehabilitation%20 in%20the%20Australian%20minerals%20industry%2025%20Feb%202016.PDF

Wei, F., & Huang, Z. (2020). Physical Experience and Space-Time Imagery—Research on the Prototype of Landscape Design by Understanding Site, Sight, and Insight. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 8(4), 26-41. https://doi.org/10.15302/J-LAF-1-020031

Mackey, I. (2021). Delburn Wind Farm [Ebook] (1st ed., p. 1). Latrobe City: OSMI Australia Pty Ltd. Retrieved from https://www. bing.com/search?q=OSMI+Australia+Pty+Ltd&cvid=f06a2fbe57b14387a4a5359229bcfc9d&aqs=edge..69i57j69i59i450l4...4.2 54j0j1&pglt=41&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=U531 Baker, A. (2022). Metal hyperaccumulator plants: a review of the ecology and physiology of a biological resource for phytoremediation of metal-polluted soils [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 1-24). Melbourne: University of Melbourne. Retrieved from https://www. researchgate.net/publication/284669331

Charnock, N. (2022). Coal Mine Rehabilitation [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 1-5). Sydney: Gelncore. Retrieved from http://www.glencore. com.au

Latrobe City Council. (2022). RURAL LAND USE STRATEGY [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 1-50). Latrobe City. Retrieved from https://www. latrobe.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/B5_May_2019_Rural_Land_Use_Strategy1.pdf

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Bird, D. (2021). Disasters and Demographic Change of ‘Single-Industry’ Towns—Decline and Resilience in Morwell, Australi [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 2-27). Melbourne: Monash University. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-49920-4_7 Victoria state government. (2016). HAZELWOOD MINE FIRE INQUIRY [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 50-140). Latrobe Valley, Victoria. Retrieved from https://www.vic.gov.au/hazelwood-mine-fire-inquiry-victorian-government-response-and-actions

Fisher, G. (2022). Hazelwood Open-Cut Coal Mine Fire [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 5-10). Latrobe City: Latrobe City Council. Retrieved from https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/bushfire-hazelwood-open-cut-mine-fire-victoria-2014/

North-West University. (2017). Microbial and Plant-Assisted Bioremediation of Heavy Metal Polluted Environments: A Review [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 2-27). Kirkland. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29207531/

Berrizbetia, A. (1991). Re-placing Process [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 1-6). Cambridge: Landscape Theory. Retrieved from https://landscapetheory1.wordpress.com/tag/anita-berrizbeitia/

Earth resources Victoria. (2022). Latrobe Valley Regional REHABILITATION STRATEGY [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 1-30). Melbourne. Retrieved from https://earthresources.vic.gov.au/projects/lvrrs

Melanie Blanchette. (2016). Turning Hazelwood’s empty coal mine into a lake could help heal mining towns (1st ed., pp. 1-6).

Joondalup. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/profiles/melanie-blanchette-342520

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BIRTH FROM THE SCAR Transforming Morwell Opencut site to a performative tourism based territory

The University of Melbourne Master of Landscape Architecture Thesis Semester one 2022