SPREADING LIKE WILD FIRE: Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor David Hodgett ignited the connection of natural gas to Yarra Glen last week, six months ahead of schedule.By DION TEASDALE
YARRA Glen residents now have a continuous supply of gas for cooking and keeping warm, thanks to the longawaited connection to the town of natural gas last week.
Yarra Glen is the first of eight other towns in the Yarra Valley to be connected to natural gas as part of the State Government’s announcement of an extension to the natural gas pipeline in the area.
Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor David Hodgett, who ignited a test purging of gas in Yarra Glen on Monday, 1 August, said the connection of gas to the town had occurred six months ahead of schedule.
“The fact that Multinet (the company undertaking the project) is six months ahead of schedule is fantastic and it means that they can start working on connections in the Wandin and Seville areas,” he said.
“It is fabulous that homes and businesses in Yarra Glen now have the opportunity to access the domestic and economic benefits of natural gas sooner rather than later.”
Multinet chief executive officer Hugh Gleeson said connecting Yarra Glen to natural gas was the first major milestone in the company’s $24 million project to bring natural gas to the unconnected towns in the Yarra Ranges, as part of the State Government’s $70 million Natural Gas Extension Project.
“When awarded the contract, we promised natural gas to the Yarra Ranges by the end of 2005, and are pleased to deliver on that promise from 1 August,” Mr Gleeson said.
“Multinet is delighted to be bringing natural gas to homes and businesses in this rapidly developing region on Melbourne’s eastern fringe.”
Mr Gleeson said more than 50 per cent of the gas lines for Yarra Glen had been laid, with the remainder due to be completed by the end of the year.
He said a connection incentive was available to Yarra Glen residents and businesses in which they could save up to $1000 per property if they connect early.
Mr Gleeson also said construction of distribution mains in Wandin would begin soon.
“We now look forward to moving to the next stages of the project, connecting several other townships in the Yarra Ranges by 2008,” he said.
Mr Gleeson said that by the end of 2008, the Yarra Ranges Natural Gas Project would make natural gas available to more than 6,000 homes and businesses in Yarra Glen, Wandin, Seville, Seville East, Woori Yallock, Launching Place, Yarra Junction, Wesburn and Millgrove.
For more information about early connection savings customers should phone Alinta on 1300 131 689, or call their local gas retailer.
