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WEDNESDAY, 8 JULY, 2026
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Pie and mighty Photograph: Peace Ijiyera
Debbie Carrodus and Spencer McNally from Pie Addicts Morwell are biting into success, after Spencer’s Texas Chilli Beef and Chicken Sun Dried Tomato pies won silver at the Australia’s Best Pie and Pastie Competition.
STORY - PAGE 5
www.latrobevalleyexpress.ccom.au
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CLOUD CLEARING
Tiger time
Richmond premiership captain Trent Cotchin stopped by Moe Racing Club last week. The club had a busy week, with a meeting, followed by a victorious state awards night.
MORE VALLEY SPORT
Photograph: Content Nation
Not in my house By PEACE IJIYERA
RUMOURS surrounding social housing 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. She squashed the rumours outright, 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 Shing and a mystery message
delivered to the Express, confirmed renovations and developments at the site. However, Ms Shing reiterated that “this is not a state government process” and “it is not something that is being contemplated for social housing.” Though unsure of how rumours like this arose, Ms Shing said the state government continues to invest in social housing across rural and regional Victoria. She highlighted the allocation of “more than $75 million to Latrobe City to provide social 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 a range of different settings,
that it is in so many different streets and it is unnoticeable, because it is just about providing people with homes that connect them really well to their communities.” Latrobe City Council also gave response, acknowledging the “community discussion” around the site. “The site is privately owned and is located within the Activity Centre Zone under the Latrobe Planning Scheme,” a council spokesperson said. “Under this zoning, a planning 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
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for future development or operation of the site, council will ensure that all appropriate standards are met. “As a privately owned site, there are a range of land use and 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 Morwell River Ward by-election, council has stated that no further commentary on the matter will be made, with the election period ending 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.
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SHOWERS INCREASING
Gasification does work
By PHILIP HOPKINS
THE gasification of Latrobe Valley brown coal has been politically thwarted, but in the northern US state of North Dakota, it is a multi-billiondollar reality. The Dakota Gasification Company Great Plains Synfuels Plant, which has been operating for more than 40 years, produces not just natural gas but thousands of tonnes of fertiliser – urea and ammonia – commercially sold carbon dioxide and many other products for industry. These products now make up more than half the synfuel’s plant’s income. The plant uses wellestablished German Lurgi technology to gasify the brown coal. Lurgi gasification technology was used in the Morwell Lurgi plant in the 1950s and ‘60s to supply Melbourne with medium heating value towns gas. It employed 200-300 people before the advent of Bass Strait natural gas, whose supply is now dwindling. Construction of North 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 a decade, but in contrast, the synfuels plant has an open-ended future, with North Dakota having an estimated 80 years of gettable coal, and its products in high demand. The fertiliser is sold throughout America. A major catalyst for the construction of the North Dakota gasification plant was the Arab oil crisis of the 1970s, when then-US President Jimmy Carter introduced a policy to guarantee America’s energy independence. There was also a fear of a natural gas shortage. The gasification plant, whose original cost was $US2.1 billion, would never have got off the ground without crucial federal and state government financial backing and bipartisan support from Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Full story: Pages 34-25