Homes and businesses in Lakes Entrance and Orbost should be connected to natural gas supply in late 2017, according to the company delivering the project, said Nationals Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull.

“The delivery of natural gas to eastern towns within East Gippsland, including nine other regions across Victoria, was secured by the Coalition in late 2014 through the Energy for the Regions Program using a compressed natural gas delivery solution,” Mr Bull said

Mr Bull said the Government contracted Brookfield to deliver reticulated natural gas from ‘mother’ stations, which would compress the gas supply from Bass Strait.

“The gas will then be trucked to ‘daughter’ stations on the outskirts of Lakes Entrance and Orbost, with homes connected from there,” he said.

Mr Bull said there would not be a lot of visible activity within the town while Brookfield is preparing for the construction of ‘daughter’ stations (including land purchase, planning and approvals), however the fact Brookfield had identified suitable land for the ‘daughter’ stations in both towns was pleasing.

“There is a lot of work to go and it won’t be until the third and fourth quarters in 2017 when Brookfield will finish connecting homes and businesses to natural gas in Orbost and Lakes Entrance, but land identification is a key step in this long process,” he said.

Mr Bull said Brookfield, in conjunction with Tas Gas Retail, a subsidiary of Brookfield and the initial gas retailer for those wishing to connect to the network, would hold community awareness sessions in Lakes Entrance and Orbost to provide specific information and to be answerable to any questions related to the project.

“It’s an exciting time for businesses and residents in these towns, as the delivery of natural gas provides a cheaper alternative as well as business opportunities.”