Pieand mighty Pie andmigh
Tiger time
Richmond premiership captain Trent Cotchinstoppe by MoeRacing Club last week
Debbie Carrodus and Spencer McNally from Pie Addicts Morwell arebiting intosuccess,after Spencer’s TexasChilliBeefand ChickenSun Dried Tomato pies wonsilveratthe Australia’s Best Pieand PastieCompetition. STORY-PAGE 5
Theclub had abusyweek, with ameeting followedbya victorious state awards night.
MOREVALLEY SPORT Photograph: Content Nation
Not in my house
By PEACE IJIYERA
RUMOURS surroundingsocialhousing at the old Morwell Central Hotel have been put to bed and tucked in for good. Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing, was eager to call out these rumours at an appearance at Kay Street Traralgon’s multistorey carpark official opening.
Shesquashedthe rumoursoutright, describing them as having “no basis”.
“There is no social housing being planned for the old Morwell Hotel. And again, it's unfortunate that there have been reports that have spread this mis and disinformation. Again, creating concern within the community about something which is not happening," Ms Shing said.
Ms Shingand amystery message
delivered to the Express, confirmed renovationsand developments at the site.
However, Ms Shing reiteratedthat “this is not astate government process” and “it is not something thatisbeing contemplated for social housing.”
Though unsure of how rumours like thisarose, Ms Shingsaidthe state government continues to invest in social housing across rural and regional Victoria. She highlightedthe allocation of “more than $75 million to Latrobe City to providesocial housing for people who need it”.
She also emphasised the importance of social housing being “embedded within communities”.
“The idea behind social housing that we're delivering, is to make sure that it fits into arange of different settings,
that it is in so many different streets and it is unnoticeable, because it is justabout providing people with homes thatconnect themreallywelltotheir communities.”
Latrobe CityCouncilalsogave response, acknowledging the “community discussion” around the site.
“The site is privately owned and is located within the ActivityCentre Zone under the Latrobe Planning Scheme,” a council spokesperson said.
“Under thiszoning, aplanning permit is not required for the site to be developed for accommodation that is located above ground floor level.
“It is important to note however that at this location no redevelopment outcome or accommodation style has been confirmed by council.
“Should any approvals be required
for future development or operation of the site,council will ensurethat all appropriatestandards aremet
“As aprivately owned site, there are arangeofland useand development opportunities that may be permissible under the planning framework.
“Any future redevelopment also has the potential to contribute to the ongoing revitalisation of Morwell's central business district."
Having entered the election period for the MorwellRiver Ward by-election, council has stated that no further commentaryonthe matter will be made, with the election periodending on August 1, 2026.
Ms Shing is clear in saying social housing has its place in society.
“Morwell and Commercial Road’s CBD is not one of those places,”she affirmed.
Gasification does work
By PHILIP HOPKINS
THE gasification of Latrobe Valley brown coal has been politicallythwarted, but in the northern US state of North Dakota, it is amulti-billiondollar reality.
The DakotaGasification CompanyGreat Plains Synfuels Plant, which has been operating for more than 40 years, produces not just natural gas but thousandsof tonnes of fertiliser –ureaand ammonia –commercially sold carbon dioxideand manyother products for industry.
These products now make up more than half the synfuel’s plant’s income.
The plant useswellestablishedGerman Lurgi technology to gasify the brown coal.
Lurgi gasification technology wasused in the Morwell Lurgi plant in the 1950s and ‘60s to supply Melbourne with medium heatingvaluetowns gas.Itemployed 200-300people before the advent of Bass Strait natural gas, whosesupply is now dwindling. ConstructionofNorth Dakota’s synfuels plant began in 1980, about the same time as the building of Loy Yang A station in the Valley and was completed in 1984.
Now, Loy Yang will be closed in adecade, but in contrast, the synfuels plant has an open-ended future, with North Dakota having an estimated 80 yearsofgettable coal, and its products in high demand.
The fertiliser is sold throughout America.
Amajor catalyst for the construction of the North Dakota gasification plant was the Arab oil crisis of the 1970s, when then-USPresident Jimmy Carterintroduced apolicy to guarantee America’senergy independence.
There was also afear of a natural gas shortage.
The gasification plant,whose originalcostwas $US2.1 billion, would never have got off the ground without crucial federal and state government financial backing and bipartisan supportfromRepublicans and Democrats in Congress.
Full story: Pages34-25
Photograph: Peace Ijiyera
