By KATH GANNAWAY
IT’S more than six years ago that Warburton Advancement League mounted a campaign to get the natural gas pipeline extended from Millgrove to Warburton.
WAL secretary Sue Slusarek called on community support and told the Mail “we aim to keep the momentum going until the gas is turned on”.
That will now happen in 2017 according the Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan who announced on Monday 19 May that the State Government had entered into an agreement with Multinet Gas to supply natural gas to Warburton.
Mr Ryan said the government had committed $7.88 million to the project and that the “long-awaited arrival of natural gas to Warburton would reduce the cost of gas for residents and businesses”.
The announcement of the construction of a gas pipeline, previously rejected as prohibitively expensive, came as a surprise to Ms Slusarek and many business operators in the town who were told late last year that the most likely option was to truck gas into a central tank.
“It was talked about for years before we started lobbying seriously in 2008,” she said when told of the new plans.
“When the pipeline stopped at Millgrove it was a crushing blow, but it’s good news for people like me, and for businesses.
“If I look around at my friends, we’re a lot older than when we started (lobbying) and when you have to buy and chop wood to keep warm, I can tell you natural gas is looking very good,” she said.
The Crocket Group behind the development of Edgewater Resort, the old Sanitarium building, were also pushing for natural gas but without clarification of when it would be available changed its plans to use more electricity than gas.
Chief executive Eric Sword told the Mail last week that it hadn’t heard the latest announcement but welcomed gas for Warburton and said it may be possible to review its final plans to include more use of gas.
“We would certainly be keen to know the exact timelines, but welcome the announcement,” Mr Sword said.
Local tourism operator Mike Iley represented Warburton Valley CEDA (Community Economic Development Association) at the announcement.
He said he welcomed the news which would have significant beneficial influence on the costs of any business currently using LPG, based on Mr Ryan’s statement that the cost was about one-third of the cost of bottled gas.
“What was stressed on Monday was that the contract was let and so there shouldn’t be any going back,” he said, but added details including where the pipe line would finish were scarce.
“You would hope it would at least run out as far as the caravan park,” he said.
Business operator Paul Jackson was also part of the 2008 lobby.
He said reticulated gas presented a better foundation on which business could make long-term decisions about energy use.
“I think it’s great news and presents fantastic opportunities to develop tourism businesses and opportunities.
“If you just take the mountain bike feasibility study released last week, if that progresses something like this means you’re better able to service the growth in eco tourism with this energy source,” he said.
