Hazelwood group achieves its purpose
The Hazelwood Closure Working Group established by Baw Baw Shire last year has been abandoned.
Council agreed the working group had achieved its purpose and should be discontinued.
The working group was established by council to support workers and their families following the closure of the Hazelwood Power Station and Mine in March last year.
The group met monthly for a 12 month period.
Officers reported to council that the group felt its original purpose had been achieved.
The working group requested council continue to work closely with Latrobe Valley Authority and the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council to support displaced workers and their families.
“The group is particularly mindful that the true impacts may be felt in the second year closure period when remaining ex-power station employees are back in the mix looking for work,” the report said.
Members of the working group will be consulted during the development of the shire’s economic development strategy to ensure ongoing support to ex-power station employees and their families.
LVA data in November last year indicated the following Baw Baw Shire employee impact: 39 contractors; 18 Engie employees; and,18 labour hire.
The two most impacted towns are Trafalgar and Warragul with smaller numbers across the shire.
Cr Mikaela Power said it was hard to over estimate what the closure of a large employer would have on the community.
She said council would now welcome their input and thinking on this matter in conjunction with its economic development strategy.
Cr Jessica O’Donnell said some of the ideas that came out of the working group were great.
She said she was impressed by the skill and knowledge amongst the members of the working group and how passionate they were about what was happening in the region.
Cr O’Donnell said the working group was an “asset to the shire.”
Cr Joe Gauci said the input the working group had was now being worked into projects with council’s economic development officer and “they are working on what they have talked about.”
He said the Latrobe Valley Authority had already taken up some of the ideas of the working group.
In a submission to council, Bruce McDonald of Coalville said he was disappointed he heard the working group was winding up via the media.
He said the group last met in December and there was no indication at that stage the group would be wound up.
He suggested the group should continue.
A semi load of bricks to who ever made the decision to make Palmerston St one way and to extend the footpaths to help private businesses.
A big bouquet to the man with the wheel-barrow who volunteers to keep Neerim South so tidy at all times.
Bouquet to Woolworths, Warragul. It was a lovely surprise to be provided with a brand new community barbecue to use when our organisation recently conducted a sausage sizzle outside the store. Much appreciated bouquets also the the very helpful staff.
Bricks (never enough of them) to all who think it is not their responsibility for noxious weeds on their properties, whether their block is big or small.
Bouquets to the couple who witnessed the incident in which a 4WD damaged my car in the Coles carpark on Thursday and provided me with details. Your community spirit and support is very much appreciated.
Big bunch of bouquets to the person who returned my purse to Lardner Rd, Drouin on Saturday. I would love to thank you in person.
Bricks to Baw Baw Shire and very few residents of Waterford Rise estate against a badly needed small shopping complex or a 7/11 for the 1000 plus residents. Think of the future.
Bouquets to The Gazette (22/5) for publishing my brick last week which was aimed at them. It gives great credit to the newspaper to do this. Thank you.
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