Latrobe Valley

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Vorlage:For Vorlage:Regions of Gippsland

A map of major urban areas, coal-fired power stations and mines in the Latrobe Valley.

Latrobe Valley is a geographical region and urban area of Gippsland in Victoria. It is nestled between the Strzelecki Ranges and the Great Dividing Range. Consisting of three cities, several towns and farming communities. The area is roughly defined by the Local government area, the City of Latrobe. It is the most densely populated part of Gippsland with a total urban area population, as defined by the local government area is approximately 78,000.

It is significant as the centre of Victoria's Energy industry - specifically the production and burning of Lignite (brown coal) to produce electricity. It produces a total of 85% of the electricity for the entire state of Victoria and is home to four of the highest electricity producing power stations. The region also produces a significant portion of Victoria's argricultural production. Both coal and agriculture are significant export industries and a key reason for the region's rapid population growth in the mid 20th Century. By virtue of these industries the Latrobe Valley also produces more greenhouse gases than any other part of the state[1].

Traralgon is the region's most populous city, while due to its central location Morwell has become the main administrative centre - the two centres share a regional rivalry.

It is named after the Latrobe River which flows eastward, through it.

Geography

While the Latrobe River flows into Lake Wellington to the east of Sale and includes in its drainage basin a significant part of central Gippsland, the region conventionally known as the Latrobe Valley occupies a smaller area centred on the three major towns of Moe, Morwell and Traralgon, between the Strzelecki Ranges to the south and the westernmost reaches of the Australian Alps to the north. The valley is moderately fertile with a damp climate.

Economy

Key industry sectors include power generation, agriculture, dairy, timber, IT, engineering and education. The Valley provides 85% of Victoria’s electricity and has a substantial engineering sector supporting the power generation, pulp and paper production and food processing industries, etc. The tertiary education sector attracts local, interstate and international students.

Logging is also an important industry in the hills to the north and south, with a major paper mill located at Maryvale, near Morwell. In the rugged north of the region is located the historic gold-mining town of Walhalla, amid mountains forming the west of Alpine National Park and nearby Baw Baw National Park, a minor winter ski resort.

Climate

It has a maritime climate meaning mild temperatures with large amounts of rain, the occasional frost and snow on neighbouring hills. The Latrobe Valley’s warmest month is February with an average temperature range of 12.5°C to 26.4°C and the coldest month is July with an average temperature range of 3.6°C to 13.5°C. The most rain occurs in late winter and spring, and average yearly rainfall is approximately 800mm.

Settlement

There are three cities in the latrobe valley:

  • Traralgon - the region's largest city by population
  • Moe - the region's second largest city by population
  • Morwell - central to the urban area, it is the administrative centre and home to the main media, the Latrobe Valley express

The primary hospital is located on the Princes Highway between Morwell and Traralgon, (This hospital being the result of an amalgamation of three local hospitals - Moe, Morwell and Traralgon).

Smaller towns are Tyers Newborough, Yinnar, Erica, Thorpdale, Yallourn North(The original Yallourn being relocated due to the open cut coal mine), Churchill (site of the local campus of Monash University) and Boolarra.

All the major towns are served by Rotary clubs, Rotary club of Morwell, Rotary club of Moe, Hazelwood Rotary Club (Churchill), and Traralgon and Traralgon central Rotary clubs.

Transport

The Princes Freeway runs through Latrobe Valley, bypassing only Morwell and connecting them to both Melbourne and East Gippsland.

The Traralgon railway line services all three major cities.

Power Stations

Yallourn W Power Station.

Power plants located in the Latrobe Valley include Hazelwood Power Station, Loy Yang Power Stations A & B, Yallourn Power Station, Jeeralang Power Station (Gas) and the Energy Brix Power Station.

References

Vorlage:Reflist

See also

Vorlage:Towns in the Latrobe Valley

  1. http://www.monash.edu.au/policy/conf/72Enzinger.pdf