Shaping tomorrow’s landscapes: the evolution of regional rehabilitation planning in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley

Authors: Sihombing, R; Torly, L; Betts, V; Feigl, A Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_08

Cite As:
Sihombing, R, Torly, L, Betts, V & Feigl, A 2026, 'Shaping tomorrow’s landscapes: the evolution of regional rehabilitation planning in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley', in AB Fourie, G Boggs, J Heyes & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2026: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 1-11, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_08



Abstract:
The Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Australia, is in the middle of a major regional transition with the staged closure of thermal power stations and associated brown coal mines. Rehabilitation challenges extend beyond individual sites and require coordinated planning to maximise positive long-term environmental, social and land use outcomes. Governments, industry, traditional owners, researchers, community representatives and other stakeholders are collaborating to proactively shape post-mining landscapes. In 2020 the Victorian Government released the Latrobe Valley Regional Rehabilitation Strategy (LVRRS) to guide rehabilitation of the brown coal mines at a regional scale. Since its release, the LVRRS has been subject to regular review and update to reflect emerging knowledge, contextual and regulatory developments, and implementation experience. This paper outlines the evolution of the LVRRS since 2020 and how an adaptive, regional-scale approach to rehabilitation planning can support clearer objectives, improved stakeholder support and increased confidence in long-term outcomes. The Latrobe Valley experience offers insights relevant to other jurisdictions managing large-scale mine closure and legacy rehabilitation challenges.

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