THE push for natural gas in Terang is continuing, with the state government now offering incentives for companies to come on board.
It is looking at both conventional and alternative methods of delivering natural gas to 13 towns, including Terang, which were given priority status in a $100 million pre-election commitment in an Energy for the Regions Program.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan said gas distribution businesses would be offered a “fixed subsidy bounty” amount to supply priority communities.
Mr Ryan said under the expanded strategy, due to start next month, bids would also be invited from the market for a compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) delivery system.
“The opportunity to decant and transport CNG/LNG to the outskirts of regional towns or industrial estates has the potential to offset the significant costs involved in the construction of major pipelines and associated infrastructure,” Mr Ryan said.
Corangamite Shire’s economic development manager Terry Binder said the government was trying to entice gas companies to supply gas to the targeted towns so they could ensure value for their investment.
He said the alternative option would involve trucking CNG or LNG to bulk storage facilities on the outskirts of towns and then reticulate it in throughout the streets.
“The preferred option is to get the pipeline connections,” Mr Binder said. “The bottled reticulation system is not the preferred option but could be an option for long distances or in difficult ground where laying pipes is more expensive.” Mr Binder said there was a main valve in the natural gas pipeline near Cobden which was where Camperdown had hooked into the system several years ago and this was likely to be where Terang would also connect.
The shire is continuing to lobby SP Ausnet in the hope it will continue its previous work in rolling out local connections.
Mr Ryan said the Energy for the Regions Program would connect homes and businesses to a more dependable energy source that was better for the environment and could cut annual household costs anywhere between $600 and $1200.
