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Morwell fire: water pipes ‘had been removed’ before coal mine caught alight | Morwell fire: water pipes ‘had been removed’ before coal mine caught alight |
(2 months later) | |
Water pipes meant to dampen exposed coal in case of fire were not in place when a Victorian coal mine caught alight, an inquiry has heard. | Water pipes meant to dampen exposed coal in case of fire were not in place when a Victorian coal mine caught alight, an inquiry has heard. |
The pipes were only replaced while firefighters battled a 45-day fire at the Hazelwood coal mine, which shrouded the town of Morwell in smoke and ash. | The pipes were only replaced while firefighters battled a 45-day fire at the Hazelwood coal mine, which shrouded the town of Morwell in smoke and ash. |
Peter Rozen, counsel assisting an inquiry into the fire, said pipes on the northern batters had originally been removed because they were corroded. | Peter Rozen, counsel assisting an inquiry into the fire, said pipes on the northern batters had originally been removed because they were corroded. |
"The more important question is why the pipes were not replaced once they were removed," Mr Rozen said in his closing submission on Tuesday. | "The more important question is why the pipes were not replaced once they were removed," Mr Rozen said in his closing submission on Tuesday. |
The inquiry also heard the owners of the mine, GDF Suez, had shown an "air of injured surprise" that a bushfire had got into the mine. | The inquiry also heard the owners of the mine, GDF Suez, had shown an "air of injured surprise" that a bushfire had got into the mine. |
Melinda Richards, SC, another counsel assisting the inquiry, said Morwell was a notoriously bushfire-prone part of Victoria. | Melinda Richards, SC, another counsel assisting the inquiry, said Morwell was a notoriously bushfire-prone part of Victoria. |
"It was an entirely foreseeable event and it was one that should have been planned for," Richards said. | |
Rozen said GDF Suez had ignored a report after a 2008 fire that recommended a risk assessment of the non-operational areas of the mine. | Rozen said GDF Suez had ignored a report after a 2008 fire that recommended a risk assessment of the non-operational areas of the mine. |
He said the 2014 fire might not have occurred if the risk assessment had been done and proper measures put in place to prevent future fires. | He said the 2014 fire might not have occurred if the risk assessment had been done and proper measures put in place to prevent future fires. |
Rachel Doyle SC, representing GDF Suez, said the company had been the only one interviewed at the inquiry that had shown a willingness to make changes to ensure a fire didn't happen again. | Rachel Doyle SC, representing GDF Suez, said the company had been the only one interviewed at the inquiry that had shown a willingness to make changes to ensure a fire didn't happen again. |
She also said evidence presented about occupational health and safety at the mine was inconsistent and other witnesses had been "shifting the goalposts". | She also said evidence presented about occupational health and safety at the mine was inconsistent and other witnesses had been "shifting the goalposts". |
United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall said firefighters at the mine worked up to 22-hour shifts in dirty uniforms. | United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall said firefighters at the mine worked up to 22-hour shifts in dirty uniforms. |
He also said the Victorian fire services ignored firefighters' concerns about the levels of carbon monoxide to which the community was exposed. | He also said the Victorian fire services ignored firefighters' concerns about the levels of carbon monoxide to which the community was exposed. |
Richards said it was "perplexing" why a week into the blaze the Department of Health and the Environment Protection Authority raised the community carbon monoxide exposure levels above what firefighters were allowed. | Richards said it was "perplexing" why a week into the blaze the Department of Health and the Environment Protection Authority raised the community carbon monoxide exposure levels above what firefighters were allowed. |
"It remains completely unclear why the community should tolerate exposure standards that would not be tolerated by firefighters," Richards said. | "It remains completely unclear why the community should tolerate exposure standards that would not be tolerated by firefighters," Richards said. |
Environment Victoria's Lisa Nichols said the regulation of mine safety was too lax, with Victoria's regulatory bodies lacking the expertise necessary to keep mine operators to a standard. | Environment Victoria's Lisa Nichols said the regulation of mine safety was too lax, with Victoria's regulatory bodies lacking the expertise necessary to keep mine operators to a standard. |
"There is a vacuum here that has had very real consequences and needs to be addressed," Nichols said. | "There is a vacuum here that has had very real consequences and needs to be addressed," Nichols said. |
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