COAL LAKE, 2024 - 2025

Coal Lake is the second collaboration between Artist Laura Prochowski and contemporary composer Alisha Redmond. This project has been inspired by the rehabilitation plans for the former coal mine site Hazelwood in the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Australia. The controversial rehabilitation detailed by energy company Engie includes an ambitious plan to develop the decommissioned 4000 hectare site into a pit lake, drawing on water sources from surrounding areas to fill it. Further reading on these plans can be found here.

The artists commenced the project in late 2024, undertaking extensive research of the area and engaging with the local community. The development of initial creative works has commenced through a series of collaborative in person sessions. The project is enhanced by additional research, community engagement and consultation and is due to be completed in the end of 2025.

This is an ambitious project that will see Laura create ten oil paintings and Alisha develop two compositions for exhibition in early 2026. The outcome of this project is a combination of immersive sonic, visual works to be exhibited in the Latrobe Valley alongside live performance by Alisha 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

Details for the exhibition will be provided on this website towards the end of 2025.