Annual Report Summary 2020/2021

Latrobe City was struck by significant flooding and storm damage when wild weather impacted the municipality – and broader Victoria – on 9 and 10 June 2021. 

The flooding of Traralgon Creek was the largest since 1978, affecting homes and businesses, and exacerbated by further rain on 11 June. 

Other areas, such as farms around Yinnar, were also flooded, with many people losing stock, fodder and fencing to the rising water. 

The smaller communities of Yinnar South, Jeeralang, Budgeree and Boolarra were affected by a cyclone-like storm front that brought down trees on private property and across roads. Others in the municipality were also affected.

As a result of the weather, many people were without power for days on end and sustained damage to their homes and other property.

“Right from the start of the unfolding emergency, Latrobe City Council supported its community through a number of channels,” Latrobe City Council Mayor, Cr Sharon Gibson said. 

“We were there to help clear trees, restore access to roads, and provide information and support. We worked with our valued community members to assess the damage and help them get on the way to returning to life as they knew it.”

Council will continue to support residents as they address the damage to their homes and property, providing advice and advocacy and ensuring they receive up-to-date information about financial or other relief.

The streetscape of Morwell’s Central Business District (CBD) has been enhanced by the completion of the Morwell CBD Revitalisation project.

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester opened the nearly $3.75 million revitalisation of Commercial Road and Tarwin Street in March, as part of the Future Morwell project. 

The project encourages people to visit, walk and spend time in the heart of Morwell and creates a village atmosphere that appeals to residents and visitors alike. The project also rebranded Morwell as the Town of Gardens, based on the iconic Morwell Centenary Rose Garden. 

“The revitalisation of Morwell’s CBD has created a new sense of pride in the heart of town, as well as a fresh identity that brings Morwell into the twenty-first century,” Latrobe City Councillor, Graeme Middlemiss said.

“The facelift for Morwell will bring more people to shop at local businesses and visit such attractions as Latrobe Regional Gallery.” 

The project included new street surfacing and paving, new public open space by creating 12 parklets and a community gathering space in Tarwin Street, complete with a shade structure, and café and casual seating. Modern technology has been introduced, with decorative lighting within parklets, free public WiFi and wireless mobile phone chargers integrated into street furniture. There is a pedestrian counter and LED street lighting that can be programmed to be dimmed or brightened. In the future, these lights may be fitted with motion sensors that will enable lights to brighten automatically when someone walks by. 

The project was driven by the Future Morwell Committee, chaired by Cr Graeme Middlemiss with representatives from Morwell Traders, Advance Morwell, Morwell Community Recovery Committee and Latrobe City Business Tourism Association.

More than 51,165 people used the $57 million Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre (GRAC), in the first three months of operation, from when it opened in March 2021. 

The world-class swimming and leisure facility was officially opened by Victorian Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas, Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing and Latrobe City Council Mayor, Cr Sharon Gibson on 23 March, ahead of opening to the public on 25 March. 

GRAC was the flagship project of the State Government’s $85 million Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative and features the only indoor 50m pool east of Melbourne, along with eight lanes and 500 spectator seats. 

In a regional first, a deep bore geothermal heating system reduces GRAC’s carbon footprint and significantly decreases operational costs. 

The YMCA managed centre also features: an indoor water play zone, two large water slides, a learn to swim pool, a café and retail precinct, and a 25m heated outdoor pool. There is also a warm water program pool, spa, sauna and steam rooms, wellness centre, wet and dry change facilities, and gymnasium with group fitness rooms

GRAC was also funded by Sport and Recreation Victoria and Council, and is now managed by the YMCA on Council’s behalf. Led by ADCO Constructions, the build provided an economic boost for local contractors, with more than 500 workers engaged in more than 10,000 hours of labour on-site.

 

Using methane as a landfill by-product to generate electricity will not only benefit the environment but also save Latrobe City Council up to $900,000 per year in electricity costs. 

Council has installed a Biogas Generator (a gas engine) at Hyland Highway Landfill to use harvested methane 

to generate electricity. 

Methane is produced as a natural product of decomposition at the landfill and is 25 times more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide. 

The biogas will be cleaned and dried, and be used 

to drive a 900 kW Jenbacher landfill gas-to-power 

engine instead of being flared off (destroyed). 

The project means Latrobe City is at the forefront 

of Victorian councils adopting innovative waste management and renewable energy technologies.

“The Biogas Generator project has the capacity to offset 70% of Council’s electricity demand, saving millions of dollars to Council over the life of the landfill,” Latrobe City Council Mayor, Cr Sharon Gibson said. 

“This project will reduce the environmental impacts of Council’s activities and carbon footprint for Latrobe City Council. Although this technology is widely used in private waste management facilities, only a few councils are using similar energy technology.”

The Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS) in Traralgon has not taken long to put points on the board.

The grandest sporting venue in Victoria’s east hosted national level netball games, a major basketball tournament and a travelling basketball competition within months of officially opening in late December 2020.

Sports fans are relishing the opportunity to see elite sport in Latrobe City, proving the value of the $19 million redevelopment of the former Traralgon Sports Stadium, funded by the State Government.

The centre now features eight courts for ball sports, including a show court with 3000 retractable spectator seats, office space, training rooms, a cafeteria, social spaces, a gymnastics facility and more.

In late March, a crowd just over 2000 fans watched the Collingwood Magpies host the Adelaide Thunderbirds and Queensland Firebirds in a practice game for the Suncorp Super Netball league, as part of the Magpies on the Road tour.

GRISS Fast Facts

• 8 ball sports courts, 1 showcourt, 3000 spectator seats
• Gymnastics facility
• Basketball Victoria high performance hub
• Home of GippSport – new office space
• 55,000 hours total worked on site (approx.)
• 85% local labour content
•   $19 million redevelopment

The stadium was funded by $17 million from the Victorian Government’s $85 million Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative, administered by Latrobe Valley Authority, and $2 million Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Community Sports Infrastructure Loan Scheme.

A 12-month build led by Becon Constructions provided an economic boost for Latrobe City, with a host of local contractors engaged.