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Latrobe Crimewatch News, Latrobe Police Service Area, mSpecial Update Edition 6 August 2011.Morwell Land Movement/Princes Freeway Closure Update. By Malcolm Lawrence - 8th August 2011 - Back to News Latrobe Crime Watch News
Latrobe Police Service Area
Neighbourhood Watch Creating Safer Communities
SPECIAL UPDATE EDITION 6 – August 2011
IMPORTANT
NUMBERS
Emergency 000, Mobiles 112, State the service you want – Police, Ambulance or Fire.
Police: Boolarra 5169 6222, Churchill 5122 1790, Moe 5127 2222, Morwell 5131 5000
Traralgon 5174 0900
Crime Stoppers
1800 333 000
Neighbourhood Watch & Safer Communities
Unit – Latrobe PSA, L/S/C Brett Godden, 5131 5085, 0400 050 749.
brett.godden@police.vic.gov.au
Facebook: Senior Constable Brett
Child Protection 13 12 78, Consumer Affairs 5116 5701, Dept Primary Industry 136186.
Dispute Settlement Centre 1800 658 528, Latrobe City 1300 367 700.
Nurse on Call 1300 606 024, Poisons Information 13 11 26,
VicRoads 131170
COMING EVENTS: NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH TOWN MEETINGS
Open invitation to all Latrobe valley residents. Get the latest crime prevention tips, crime statistics and Morwell freeway closure updates by attending your local town meeting. This is the forum to raise your issue of a police matter in an informal non-threatening forum.
Wednesday 24th Aug, 28th Sept, 2nd Nov, 30th Nov, 14th Dec - RoadSafe Gippsland Free Motorised Mobility Device Presentation - International Power Traffic School in Morwell – For bookings ring Lisa Proctor on 0419 393 459
Monday 5th September 2011 - Moe/Newborough Town Meeting - Moe RSL Albert Street, Moe – 7 pm Tuesday 6th September 2011 - Traralgon Town Meeting - Civic Offices, Kay Street - 7.15 pm
Wednesday 7th September 2011 - Morwell Town Meeting-Milne Bay Room, Morwell RSL, Elgin St– 7 pm
Wednesday 14th September 2011 - Yallourn North Town Meeting–Yallourn North Bowling Club–7.30 pm
Thursday 15th September 2011 - Yinnar Town Meeting - Yinnar Hotel – 7.30 pm
Wednesday 28th September 2011 – Churchill Town/CDCA Meeting - Churchill Community Hall - 7 pm
Morwell Land Movement/Princes Freeway Closure Community Update
Hi everyone,
We’ve had some very pleasing news this week with Minister O’Brien announcing on Monday that weather permitting, the Princes Freeway at Morwell will be reopened in time for the September school holidays.
This is welcome news and I know you will all be pleased.
Our understanding of the problem has improved significantly over the past two weeks as new data and information has been analysed. As a result of this, we are now satisfied that the road can be re-opened safely.
A series of remediation works to restore the freeway to a condition in which it is safe to open will now commence. This will include works to line the central median and other strengthening works. An early warning system to detect any future movement in the area will also be established to prompt a road closure if needed. This will include the use of Variable Message Signs.
While work on the drain design continues, the opening of the freeway is no longer reliant on the completion of that remedial work.
The Emergency Management Team will no longer oversee the situation and I will step down from my role as Incident Controller as soon as ongoing arrangements with the relevant agencies are finalised in the coming weeks.
Public safety will remain the number one priority and the Emergency Management Team will be reconvened in the case of an emergency.
I thank you all for your continued patience and support over the past few months.
Kind regards,
Tess Walsh
Superintendent
Incident Controller
Freeway Closure Update - continued
Media release - The Hon Michael O’Brien MP Minister for Energy and Resources - Mon 1st August 2011
Princes Freeway at Morwell to Reopen Soon
The Princes Freeway at Morwell will be reopened – weather permitting – in time for the September school holidays, Acting Minister for Roads and Minister for Energy and Resources Michael O’Brien said today.
Speaking after a meeting with the local Emergency Management Team – which has been working hard over recent months to resolve the issues causing the road’s closure – Mr O’Brien said the road reopening would benefit local residents, business and the tourism industry.
"Expert advice is that the Princes Freeway at Morwell will soon be safe to reopen," Mr O’Brien said.
The reopening will be subject to ongoing compliance with safety standards. A Traffic Management System will be in place should the freeway need to be closed temporarily as a precautionary measure in response to ground movement or heavy rainfall.
VicRoads will prepare a Traffic Management Plan for this purpose, which will include the use of electronic message signs.
"This is great news for Gippsland motorists, businesses, residents and visitors to the area, and I want to thank them for their patience and cooperation so far and in the coming weeks," Mr O’Brien said.
"We understand how important it is to the community and region to reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so and that is what we’ve been working towards for months.
"This has been an extremely complex and challenging situation, and I would like to thank everyone involved in getting us to this point, especially Superintendent Tess Walsh and the members of the Emergency Management Team."
Mr O’Brien said the freeway would be open to traffic from late September at its designated 110 km/h speed limit, once additional safety and water control works are completed.
"Weather permitting, it is expected those works will be complete by the school holidays which start on 24 September," Mr O’Brien said.
"Once they are finished, the Princes Freeway will be able to be reopened and traffic will no longer be diverted through the city of Morwell along Princes Drive."
A stretch of the freeway has been closed since 10 February this year, when heavy rain led to the creation of sinkholes and ground movement in the area.
Since then a range of mitigation measures have been introduced by International Power Hazelwood, including the drilling of 50 horizontal drains at the base of the mine area, to drain more water away from the area of instability. A range of geotechnical studies and surveys were undertaken to better understand the reasons for ground movement and how to prevent it.
Mr O’Brien said the latest advice from geotechnical experts is that mitigation efforts have been effective.
Mr O’Brien said VicRoads will immediately commence works on:
Lining of the 300 metre central median along the currently closed section of the freeway; and
Other strengthening works including injecting grout into underground holes.
"The monitoring of ground movement around the freeway area will continue, even after works are completed and the road reopened to traffic," Mr O’Brien said.
"Around the clock monitoring of the freeway will detect any change which may result in the need for a temporary closure in the future."
Mr O’Brien said work would continue to finalise the longer-term solution for the use and design of the Morwell Main drain, to prevent as much as possible more water entering the area of instability.
"The engineering problems relating to the Morwell Main Drain are highly complex, and the Department of Primary Industries is continuing to work with International Power Hazelwood on the solution," Mr O’Brien said.
"The Victorian Coalition Government remains committed to repairing the Morwell Main Drain, which will remove the need for precautionary road closures.
"The Coalition Government has taken a careful approach to this issue based on expert advice, in stark contrast to the reckless irresponsibility of Daniel Andrews’ Labor Opposition."
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: malcolml@dcsi.net.au
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