Rock solid fight

By Kath Gannaway
THE Warburton Advancement League is heading a campaign to get natural gas to Warburton.
WAL president Jesse James was adamant last week that the geological barriers to taking the natural gas pipeline through to Warburton are not as rock solid as they’ve been painted.
Gas provider Multinet has consistently argued that the cost of extending the natural gas pipeline from Millgrove is prohibitive because of the need to take the pipe through significant areas of solid rock.
They have also argued that it is not viable because of the small number of potential users.
Mr James however says they are ignoring an obvious solution.
“The reality is that there is an existing easement there with sewer, water and fibre optic phone lines and we believe there must also be room for a gas pipe,” he said.
Mr James said the easement runs through from Millgrove – the end of the existing gas pipeline – to Warburton.
“This idea was raised a couple of years ago when there was a meeting about the gas at the Warburton football ground,” Mr James said.
“Their answer was that they couldn’t put the gas pipeline in the same easement because … because … because. In fact they know as well as I do that it would go in without any trouble,” he said.
Mr James maintains that the only reason Warburton residents don’t have natural gas are financial.
“They know it will cost a fair bit of money to put in this infrastructure but the reality is there are a lot more gas users in Warburton than there are in Millgrove.
The Warburton Advancement League launched the campaign at its May meeting.
Letters to residents, business operators and community groups will be sent out soon.
Mr James said he hoped many people would write to the league setting out their reasons for supporting a natural gas connection.
“We will then look at having a public meeting to get all the main players together to have their say with a view to putting a submission to the government,” he said.
Mr James said WAL members were unanimous in their determination to pursue what they see as a major benefit for the town.
“We won’t be doing petitions; we want people to put pen to paper and spell out in their own words why Warburton residents should not continue to be disadvantaged with high LPG gas, electricity and firewood costs,” he said.
A recent EACH (Eastern Access Community Health) study of gas use along the Warburton Highway concluded that Warburton residents were severely disadvantaged by not being able to tap into a resource which is both economically and environmentally superior to other energy sources.
“It’s about welfare, but it’s also very much about equity,” Mr James said.
“Warburton is a popular tourist destination and it’s got bigger populations than most of the towns along the (Warburton Highway) gas line. It’s ludicrous that a town of the size and importance of Warburton is denied the use of a commodity, which has enormous benefits and which is so close,” he said.