There is one problem however, and that is no one is allowed to get at it.

A moratorium imposed by the Napthine government on all forms of gas exploration is still in place and supported by the Andrews government until a state inquiry into the gas exploration industry is completed.

The boss of Lakes Oil toured the region last week in a bid to get local mayors and others to see his point of view.

Lakes Oil executive chairman Robert Annells wants a partial lifting of the moratorium so that he can sink a couple of exploration wells to see if the gas his geologists believe is there has potential. 

This is not about hydraulic fracking or coal-seam gas, the controversial process that has so many people in Queensland up in arms because of the potential to contaminate underground water resources and render valuable farming land next to useless.

 Conventional gas exploration happens everywhere with next to no impact on the environment. 

South-west Victoria is badly in need of big-picture investment. With uncertainty over the federal government’s approach to the renewable energy target, the wind industry is going backwards, so a viable, long-term conventional gas industry could be just what we need to boost the economy of the region.

Conventional gas drilling should be separated out from the state government moratorium without delay and it is likely that any inquiry will recommend that this happen anyway.

There is no good reason why potential gas reserves are locked away if they can be accessed and pumped out and used by industry and households without resorting to coal-seam gas fracking. 

We need cheap gas and the market for energy is growing all the time.

If supply is increased, prices will come down and that is good news for consumers paying top dollar for energy now.