Hazelwood closure would sadden founder

Former deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer says the man who developed the Latrobe power station projects would be disappointed by the imminent closure of the Hazelwood plant.

Workers at Hazelwood are gathering at 10am on Thursday and are expected to be told operations will cease in March.

Latrobe founder and engineer John Monash were alive today he would be "saddened", Mr Fisher told AAP.

"As the inaugural head of the state electricity commission after World War I, John Monash devised, planned and developed Latrobe power station projects in the process overcoming the water impregnation problem by using German technology," he said.

Mr Fischer said he personally believed Australia needed to "hasten carefully" when exiting brown coal projects, as the country moves to future alternate energy sources.