Climate Change and Regional Identity in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria

Abstract

The advent of more recent concerns about climate change has added a further dimension to the identity of the region as a 'dirty' locale. [...]Victoria is the least climate friendly state-home to three of Australia's dirtiest power stations and none of the 12 biggest renewable energy plants. .. Economic value-added revenue generated by the power industry was estimated at $802.4m in 2008, representing 21.2 per cent of gross regional product, while every ten direct jobs in the coal and electricity sector were estimated to sustain a further eight jobs in the local economy (Latrobe City Council). [...]the region continues to support a significant engineering industry, including international companies such Bilfinger Berger and locally-owned small firms, which service the coal and power industries and markets elsewhere in Australia. According to Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Australian Greens, the brown coal-fired power stations of the Latrobe Valley (Loy Yang, Hazelwood, Yallourn, Morwell) which supply Victoria's power represent the worst form of carbon pollution: According to Chester, 'We need to be viewing coal as an outstanding natural asset which must be used in the cleanest way possible to power our nation' ('Morwell unemployment double the national average: where are the jobs?', Latrobe Valley Express, June 2008).