20/11/07 – NEW SECTION OF STRZELECKI HWY OPENS EARLY 2008

International Power Hazelwood (IPRH) wishes to advise that construction work on a new 7.5 kilometre section of the Strzelecki Highway south west of Morwell is progressing very well with an expected completion date in early 2008. It is expected that sometime in February 2008, the old section of this highway will be permanently closed to all traffic.

As a result, the western section of Brodribb Road between the Strzelecki Highway and Hazelwood cemetery also will be permanently closed to all traffic. Another redevelopment of the Yinnar Road – the designated new overdimensional (OD9) route – along the Hazelwood pondage foreshore will not be finished until April / May 2008.

A spokesperson for IPRH said the road changes would mean a number of new traffic management arrangements for the local area.

“The new Strzelecki Highway, the reopening of Marretts Road and the closure of Brodribb Road west are all important achievements in our Rivers and Roads Relocation (RRR) project. We are working closely with the local Council and VicRoads to ensure all road users are reminded of the changes that will shortly take place,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said IPRH had been communicating this information to local residents, communities and key stakeholders in the vicinity of the road upgrade project for some years.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents and the local communities for their patience and understanding as we make these important local road changes so we can access our future coal reserves.”

This work has been undertaken by IPRH as part of the West Field Mine Development Program; in particular the RRR project – a project worth over $100 million of investment to secure access to IPRH’s coal resources for the next 25 years. P>

“Construction work on a new 10 kilometre open channel section of the Morwell River is also progressing well and is due to be fully completed in 2010,” the spokesperson said.