Media Releases

Member for Rodney Paul Weller has commenced an investigation to determine the feasibility of extending natural gas to subdivisions in the Echuca East area off the Murray Valley Highway.

As part of the study, Mr Weller is working to determine the level of community support for such a proposal by seeking expressions of interest from residents who live in subdivisions east of Mary Ann Rd.

Mr Weller has written to households in Scott Rd, Mary Ann Rd, Tasman Crt, Airlie Crt, Meadow Crt, Village Crt, Wallingford Crt, Cash Crt and Kelsh Rd this week to gauge their support for the proposal and to determine their willingness to contribute financially to help secure a natural gas supply.

“Until such time as we can determine the level of support for this proposal it is impossible to provide a definitive figure as to the level of financial commitment required by individual households,” he said.

“However, obviously the more households to indicate a willingness to make a financial contribution, the lower the individual cost and the greater the strength of the argument to secure a natural gas supply.”

Mr Weller said he had already been contacted by many residents who were prepared to make a financial contribution in return for access to the natural gas network.

He said the renewed interest in the issue had been triggered by reports that a new residential development in Scott Road (next to Echuca Race Course) was investigating options to have a natural gas connection to the blocks of land for sale.

“I can confirm that the developers of this estate are working to secure a natural gas supply to the development.

“With that in mind, it seems an opportune time to revisit this issue and to attempt to build the argument to extend natural gas to the whole area.”

Mr Weller said he had written to the Minister for Energy and Resources Michael O’Brien to determine what his department may be able to offer in terms of finding a way to progress the distribution of natural gas in an equitable manner to all households in the area.

He said the Minister had advised that residents must be able to convince a gas distribution company that they had the numbers to make the project viable for them to consider taking it on.

“I have therefore written to all applicable residents to seek their support for this proposal to assist us in progressing the matter further.

“Once that feedback has been received, we will be in a much stronger position to put the case to a gas distribution company for consideration.”

Mr Weller said he was aware that some households in the area were leased by tenants and encouraged the landlords of those properties to also contact him to provide their feedback.

He said it was crucial that all households in the relevant area participate in the investigation if it was to have any chance of success.

The long-standing campaign to secure natural gas for Heathcote has paid off with the Coalition Government guaranteeing funding for the major project in its inaugural state budget.

 

Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller said he was delighted to confirm that Heathcote would be connected to the natural gas grid under a new $100 million Energy for the Regions natural gas extension program.

 

Mr Weller said the announcement was news that Heathcote people had been waiting to hear for a long time.

 

“This project will have a huge impact on the Heathcote district in terms of underpinning future growth and prosperity in the region,” he said.

 

“This is a town with enormous potential for growth and development and the availability of natural gas will enable that true potential to finally be realised.”

 

Mr Weller said natural gas was a clean, efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly energy source that would bring enormous benefits to households in Heathcote.

 

He said natural gas infrastructure would also play a critical role in creating a level playing field for Heathcote to compete against other locations to attract new industry and business to the town.

 

“This funding will give the people of Heathcote great hope for the future.

 

“For the past 11 years under Labor, this community has been disappointed time and again by the government’s failure to make natural gas a priority.

 

“I am so proud that in our first year in government, the Liberal-National Coalition has made this project a priority and committed the funding to enable it to go ahead.”

 

In August 2009 Mr Weller and former state cabinet minister and Heathcote district identity Jock Granter launched a community campaign to secure natural gas for the town.

 

The campaign had the backing of the entire Heathcote community and the City of Greater Bendigo but it was still not enough for the Brumby Government to make it a priority, Mr Weller said.

 

“I couldn’t be happier that the Coalition Government has taken a strong, practical and common-sense leadership stance on this issue and so many others in its first year in government.

 

“It has listened to the concerns of the people of Heathcote and acted on them.”

Heathcote’s long-awaited natural gas connection is on the way, according to Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller,

 

Mr Weller, who was re-elected with a resounding vote of confidence at last Saturday’s State election, said he would begin work immediately on getting the project underway.

 

“We promised that if the Coalition was given the chance to govern, then the connection of natural gas to such a vibrant growth centre as Heathcote would be a priority, and that will certainly be honoured.

 

“It will make a huge difference to the town, and is something that should have happened years ago,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said he was very appreciative of the support he had received at the Heathcote voting booth.

 

“I have worked hard over the last four years to get to know and understand the concerns of the people in the electorate, and to top the poll last Saturday was very pleasing.

 

“I will continue to push for the best results possible for the area, and certainly the delivery of natural gas will be a real bonus,” Mr Weller said.

A promised feasibility study into the provision of natural gas for both Nathalia and Cohuna will be quickly implemented, Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller said today.

 

Mr Weller said that in the lead-up to Saturday’s election, the Coalition had promised the $1m feasibility study, and he would now be pressing hard to get it underway.

 

Mr Weller, who was re-elected resoundingly on Saturday, said the election result putting the Coalition into government would bring about significant improvements in rural and regional areas.

 

“Towns like Nathalia and Cohuna were being starved of the opportunities to grow and develop because Labor was not prepared to put the work or the money into the provision of natural gas.

 

“We have been given the opportunity to correct that, and we will be acting quickly on this and many other fronts,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said he was very appreciative of the strong personal vote that he received.

 

“It is pleasing that people do see and understand the effort that goes into providing a strong and vigorous representation, and that is something I have prided myself on.

 

“There are a whole range of issues that we can work on, and I am really looking forward to producing some positive results for this electorate. We can now all look forward to working together in a much more positive environment,” Mr Weller said.

A Coalition Government will connect gas to Heathcote under a new $100 million Energy for the Regions natural gas extension program, Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller, said.

 

Mr Weller said he was delighted to be able to announce that the Coalition had agreed to guarantee funding for the project, saying it was news that Heathcote people had been waiting to hear for a long time.

 

“They have been disappointed time and again by the tired old Brumby government, but we are prepared to give a firm undertaking that if elected to power on November 27, this major project will be going ahead.

 

“It will make a huge difference to Heathcote, a town which is just bursting with potential. It will send a very positive and encouraging sign to industry and to tourism operators, and will prove a turning point,” he said.

 

Mr Weller has been fighting an ongoing battle to get the current government to agree to natural gas for Heathcote, and last year, with the aid of former state cabinet minister and Heathcote district identity, Jock Granter, he put a 700 strong petition before Parliament calling for the project to go ahead.

 

“It had the backing of the City of Greater Bendigo and certainly of the whole town and surrounding area, but this was still not enough for the Brumby Government. The petition was rudely shoved to one side.

 

“Well, today we announce a new approach to the way people are going to be treated in rural areas. They will have a Coalition government that actually listens to their concerns and acts on them,” he said.

 

Mr Weller said Heathcote, with a population now at almost 3000, had taken giant strides forward in recent times.

 

“It is a very progressive feel about it, with a lot of positive people working hard. The news of the funding guarantee will give them great hope for the future, and this is exactly the sort of helping hand that country centres need.

 

“People everywhere have come to the conclusion that time is up for this tired, arrogant Brumby government. They are sick of litany of disasters unfolding almost daily, and they are looking for strong, practical and common-sense leadership. That is what the Coalition will deliver,” he said.

The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition today unveiled the first step in building a natural gas pipeline along the Murray River as part of a clear plan to boost industry and jobs in northern Victoria.

Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Development and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan said a Coalition Government would invest up to $1 million to fund a feasibility study into the provision of natural gas to Victoria’s six Murray River regions to drive new industry, business and employment opportunities.

Making the announcement in Swan Hill with local Nationals Members Peter Walsh and Paul Weller, Mr Ryan said towns like Swan Hill and businesses along the Murray should be able to access natural gas.

“In the 21^st century, it is absurd that this vast area of regional and rural Victoria is not connected to reticulated natural gas,” Mr Ryan said.

 

Local member for Rodney, Paul Weller said that this would indeed “have a huge impact on towns like Nathalia and the wider Echuca area who would be connected to the pipeline under the project.”

“After 11 years, Labor has neglected this region and its economic potential. A lack of natural gas limits a region’s capacity to attract new industry, encourage economic growth and create career opportunities.” Mr Ryan said.

“The Coalition’s pledge to fund a feasibility study for a natural gas pipeline project is the first step in ensuring Murray River communities will be able to access a vital cost-effective energy source alternative to electricity and LPG.

“A ready supply of natural gas will create exciting new tourism and career opportunities and bring more industrial investment into northern Victoria for years to come.

“Delivering the cheaper, more environmentally friendly energy source of natural gas will also ease the cost of living for local families in northern Victoria.

“The Coalition is committed to supporting the needs of our regional communities and we believe residents and businesses along the Murray deserve speedy access to natural gas,” Mr Ryan said.

The disappointment in towns such as Heathcote over the State Government’s lack of commitment to extend natural gas infrastructure is completely understandable, according to Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller.

 

Mr Weller, who spent a full day talking with Heathcote businesses and townspeople last week,

said the lack of natural gas was seen as a major obstacle to future growth and development.

 

“This was something that was promised by this government back in the 2002 election campaign, and since then there has been nothing but disappointment as rural Victorians wait for the arrival of natural gas,” Mr Weller said.

 

Many municipalities are expressing their concern about the lack of action, with the extension of natural gas being raised as a key objective for the future development of their regions. It has been noted that the development of natural gas infrastructure did not feature in the State Government’s Blueprint for Regional and Rural Victoria.

 

“This does not come as a surprise to me, as the government has had eight years to follow up on its promises, and has done very little,” Mr Weller said.

 

“I have been saying for a long time that the extension of natural gas to towns such as Heathcote was the key to their future development, but the Brumby Government hasn’t responded.

 

“I completely understand the frustration being felt by councils, as it is their towns and their future which is at stake.

 

“I will continue my representations to pressure the government into some action, but after eight years of waiting for another empty Labor promise, I can understand the scepticism and frustration evident in Heathcote and right around the electorate,” he said.

 

The disappointment expressed by Gannawarra Shire over the State Government’s lack of commitment to extend natural gas infrastructure to the municipality is completely understandable, according to Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller.

 

“This was something that was promised by this government back in the 2002 election campaign, and since then there has been nothing but disappointment as rural Victorians wait for the arrival of natural gas,” Mr Weller said.

 

The shire last week agreed to write to Premier John Brumby expressing their concern about the lack of action, and pointing out that the extension of natural gas was raised as a key objective for the future development of the region at the Murray River Group of Council’s futures conference held at Mildura recently.

 

“The shire has noted that the development of natural gas infrastructure to the area did not feature in the State Government’s Blueprint for Regional and Rural Victoria. This does not come as a surprise to me, as the government has had eight years to follow up on its promises, and has done very little.

 

“I have been saying for a long time that the extension of natural gas to a number of towns in the Rodney electorate was the key to their future development, but the Brumby Government hasn’t responded.

 

“I completely understand the frustration being felt by Gannawarra councillors, as it is their towns and and their future which is at stake.

 

“I will continue my representations to pressure the government into some action, but after eight years of waiting for another empty Labor promise, I can understand the scepticism and frustration evident in towns right around the electorate,” he said.

A wide range of ongoing concerns was raised by local residents at last week’s meeting of the Cohuna Progress Association.

 

And present to hear them was Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller.

 

Mr Weller praised association members for their positive attitude and willingness to identify problems and seek answers.

 

“Certainly the ongoing issue of lack of funding for local government bodies was high on the list of concerns,” Mr Weller said.

 

“I can confidently say that under a Coalition Government, cost shifting of recent years will come to an end. Local councils play an absolutely vital role in the growth and development of their regions and they must be resourced to a level which enables them to effectively carry out that role.

 

“Members of the progress association can see what is happening under Labor, and they are rightly calling out for change. Sadly, at present we have a government which just refuses to listen,” he said.

 

Mr Weller said that progress association members were also very concerned at the Smart Meters fiasco.

 

“This is a government scheme which has already blown out in price from $800m to $2.25b, and country people can see that they will be carrying the cost for this through increasing charges.

 

“Association members can see rapidly rising electricity costs being further boosted by what they will have to pay in the blow out in cost for Smart Meters,” he said.

 

Mr Weller said the other big concern was the complete lack of progress on the natural gas pipeline.

 

I share their concerns as the supply of natural gas to towns such as Cohuna is critical for their future growth and development.”

 

Mr Weller said that one the local issues raised earlier in day was the need for a school crossing at the rear of St Mary’s Primary School.

 

“This street is the one that most of the students use, and there is a definite need for a crossing there,” he said.

 

Mr Weller outlined the Coalition’s plan for a $1b Regional Growth Fund, a feature of which would be strong local involvement on preferred outcomes.

 

“This scheme, announced recently by Nationals leader Peter Ryan, has the capacity to make an enormous difference in country areas, and the involvement and interest of groups such as the Cohuna Progress Association will be vital in its successful implementation,” he said.

 

Mr Weller thanked progress association president George Drummond  for welcoming him along to the meeting.

 

“It was great to be part of it and to talk with and listen to such enthusiastic people. I look forward to furthering these discussions into the future,” he said.

The Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has pitched a bold proposal to the Brumby Labor Government which could help facilitate the extension of natural gas across country Victoria.

The proposal would require the Federal Government to invest a portion of its tax revenue from gas deals with China, Japan and other countries into a Natural Gas Extension Fund.

Under the scheme, the states would receive a share of that fund each year to subsidise the roll out of natural gas to their towns.

Mr Weller said the plan was very much in its infancy, but he felt it was worthy of further investigation.

He said he had made representations to the Victorian Treasurer, Minister for Energy and Resources and Minister for Regional and Rural Development to seek their views on the idea and to ask them to lobby the Federal Government.

“The lack of access to natural gas is an enormous issue for constituents in my electorate, and right across Victoria, and has been for many, many years.

“People in the communities of Heathcote, Cohuna, Rushworth, Nathalia, Gunbower, Leitchville, Elmore and Lockington have been patiently waiting for connection to the gas grid which has been promised for so long, but remains undelivered.

“Despite constant lobbying, the government doesn’t seem any closer to coming up with a plan to facilitate the roll out.

“The intent behind this proposal is to offer the government an idea which might help move the process along – an attempt to be part of the solution as opposed to simply asking for one.”

Mr Weller said a major deal was announced in August 2009 by China to buy $50 billion worth of natural gas from the North West Shelf Gorgon development on Australia’s West Coast.

Since then, he said a number of other countries including Japan, had signed separate gas deals with Gorgon which would generate enormous additional export revenue for Australia.

“Looking at the China deal alone, it is expected to result in up to $100 billion of fresh investment over 12 to 18 months across a range of projects in Australia,” Mr Weller said.

“The project is also expected to pump $40 billion in tax to the Federal Government over the next 20 to 30 years which equates to between $1.3 and $2 billion per year in new tax for the government.

“My proposal centres on the Federal Government allocating some of that money to a Natural Gas Extension Fund to subsidise the roll out of natural gas to towns across Australia.

“As a modest example, if Victoria was to be allocated $100 million from that Federal fund each year it could connect between 30 and 50 country towns to the natural gas grid.”

Mr Weller said the investment in natural gas infrastructure would help underpin future growth and prosperity in country Victoria which would provide a major boost to Victoria’s economy.