Victorian town finally cooking with gas

Elias Raffoul, Sue Clissold and Cr Carol McGregor enjoy the first cup of tea in Winchelsea made with natural gas.
Elias Raffoul, Sue Clissold and Cr Carol McGregor enjoy the first cup of tea in Winchelsea made with natural gas.

A Victorian town has been connected to the mains gas supply this week.

Winchelsea’s first connection was officially commissioned this week, when natural gas flowed into the home of local resident Sue Clissold.

AusNet Services’ new underground gas network  is now giving homes and businesses in the town a cost-effective and convenient energy supply.

AusNet Services began construction to extend its underground gas pipeline into Winchelsea in 2014.

With commissioning now complete, AusNet Services’ manager gas networks Elias Raffoul said residents wishing to connect to the natural gas network should act now to be early recipients of natural gas.

“We estimate that more than 600 Winchelsea residents and businesses now have access to natural gas,” Mr Raffoul said.

“By connecting, they can enjoy the benefits of natural gas for cooking, heating and hot water systems, replacing the need to use bottled gas, electricity, and fire wood.”

Ms Clissold said she had arranged to include gas pipes when building her new house recently.

“Mains gas is cheaper and cleaner, so it made sense to prepare for its arrival in Winchelsea when we built,’ she said.

“It’s early days, but I love the convenience and flexibility of natural gas.”

Before gas can be used, a service pipe from the street to the house and any internal pipes must be installed, and a gas meter fitted.

AusNet Services’ has detailed information on its website – www.ausnetservices.com.au – for consumers wanting to connect to the gas network.

In the last five years, AusNet Services has extended the natural gas network in western Victoria to more than 92,000 homes and businesses.

Under past State Government natural gas extension programs, gas has been connected to 12 Victorians towns: Barwon Heads, Camperdown, Creswick, Gisborne, Lancefield, Macedon, Maiden Gully, New Gisborne, Port Fairy, Riddells Creek, Romsey and Woodend.

Winchelsea joins Huntly as the second of four towns to be connected to the main Victorian natural gas grid under the current program.

Avoca and Bannockburn are also expected to be connected early in 2017.

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