Loy Yang Brown Coal Mine

The Loy Yang brown coal mine is located south of Traralgon in the Latrobe Valley. It is assigned mining licence MIN5189. AGL acquired the mine and adjoining power station (Loy Yang A) in 2012 and is the licence holder.

Loy Yang is one of three Victorian mines gazetted as ‘Declared Mines’ under the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 (‘the Act’).

A declared mine is one that has been identified as having significant and complex environmental, social or economic risks, particularly in relation to mine rehabilitation and closure.

Declared mines are subject to greater regulatory oversight and must meet higher standards regarding rehabilitation planning and implementation as part of the mine closure.

Background

Loy Yang’s mine has served the two Loy Yang power stations (A and B) since their commissioning in the 1980s. Brown coal is extracted via open-cut mining and transported via conveyor belt to the nearby power stations for use in electricity generation.

In 2022, AGL announced plans to close the Loy Yang A power station and mine in 2035.

Current status

Rehabilitation

The Act and regulations require AGL to prepare and submit a Declared Mine Rehabilitation Plan by 1 October 2025.

This plan must describe how the Loy Yang mine site will be remediated and rehabilitated to a safe, stable and sustainable landform. It must also detail how risks will be monitored and managed, and how stakeholders and communities are to be consulted during the plan’s development and throughout the mine’s rehabilitation and closure.

AGL has also applied under the Water Act 1989 for a new bulk entitlement to access surface water from the Latrobe River system for water-based rehabilitation of the Loy Yang mine.

Regulatory compliance

Resources Victoria’s Earth Resources Regulator continues to monitor AGL’s mining operations to ensure compliance with the regulatory requirements pertaining to Declared Mines. This includes undertaking quarterly audits of mine stability, rehabilitation, environment and fire risk.

In addition to its routine program of targeted audits, inspections, compliance and stability meetings, the regulator investigates all community concerns reported as complaints.

Read more about regulatory compliance.

Enquiries

Enquiries about onsite operations and activities at Loy Yang mine should be directed to AGL via:

• aglcommunity@agl.com.au
• 1800 039 600.

Community concerns and complaints

Emergency incidents, safety concerns, pollution events, evidence of non-compliance and other community concerns and complaints should be directed to the regulator responsible for the area it relates to.

• Use the RRAM online form, email errfeedback@deeca.vic.gov.au or call 1300 366 356 to contact Resources Victoria’s Earth Resources Regulator about activities occurring within the site boundary.
• Contact Environment Protection Authority Victoria’s 24-hour pollution hotline on 1300 372 842 or online via the EPA’s reporting pollution page.

Page last updated: 26 Jun 2025