COAL LAKE: 2026 - 2027
Coal Lake is the second collaboration between Laura Prochowski and contemporary composer Alisha Redmond. This project was initially inspired by the rehabilitation plans for the former coal mine site Hazelwood in the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Australia. The rehabilitation plans detailed by energy company Engie includes an ambitious plan to develop the decommissioned 4000 hectare site including the transformation of a 120m deep open cut void into a pit lake, drawing on water sources from the great Latrobe Valley area. Further reading on these plans can be found here.
This project has since evolved to capture the closure of all three coal mines in the Latrobe Valley and their subsequent rehabilitation plans including the plans to fill the three great mine voids of Hazelwood, Yallourn and Loy Yang.
The artists commenced the project in late 2025, undertaking research of the area and extensive engagement with the local community and site visits with both Hazelwood and Yallourn. The project scope has been enhanced by additional research through Federation University, State Library of Victoria and community engagement and support.
The outcome of this project is a combination of immersive sonic, visual works to be exhibited at Latrobe Regional Gallery in Autumn 2027. The project will be enhanced by artists talks and live performances by Alisha accompanied by local musicians throughout the duration of the exhibition.
“What first sparked my interest in these rehabilitation plans is the sheer scale of it. Living nearby and having passed by the Hazelwood site on a number of occasions, this site is immense in size, it will take more water than is in the Sydney Harbour to fill it. I introduced this project to Laura after reading notes from a local community engagement session with Engie. The complexities of this site, the rehabilitation plans and the potential community impact immediately inspired us to centre our second collaboration around it.” - Alisha Redmond
Futher details for the exhibition and performances will be provided on this website in early 2027.