LEFT IN THE COLD
Gas supply issues leave hundreds shivering in coastal towns and the fix is a long way off
HUNDREDS of residents across Barwon Heads, Torquay and Jan Juc, who have been left in the cold because of gas-supply issues, face the possibility of more days without heating this winter.
RESIDENTS across Torquay, Jan Juc and Barwon Heads face more days without heating this winter after their gas supplier was unable to guarantee supply to the coast for the rest of the year.
While hundreds of residents working from home were left without heating or with low gas pressure during the cold temperatures this week, gas provider AusNet Services told the Geelong Advertiser it was unable to guarantee its gas supply in coastal suburbs until it completed a network upgrade, due in winter next year.
Some residents claimed their gas services were out for more than 48 hours before being restored this week.
Barwon Heads Alliance vice-president Steve Wickham said the heating issues left him working from home in the “freezing cold” up to six hours at a time.
“In the last two weeks the gas has dropped out completely about five to 10 times, it’s very unreliable,” he said.
“It happened last year, and the year before – my friends in Ocean Grove have been having the same problems too.”
Torquay’s Donna Goodacre, who raised gas supply concerns last year, said it was “crazy” how long the supply issues had been occurring.
“Here we go again, gas only just lit with minimal result – I thought we would’ve had this sorted 12 months later,” she posted to social media.
AusNet said last year that it was taking “immediate” measures to investigate the low pressure issues.
Hundreds of residents took to social media this week to share their frustrations about the unresolved gas pressure issues, some saying they were forced to take cold showers.
“This happens in Torquay every year … gas supply is limited on high demand days … always remember to shower or bath before 5pm,” resident Isabel Fopiani posted.
Kelly Zois said dealing with low gas supplies was an “annual event”.
“No heating, cold showers gas issues every year for years and it’s never been fixed,” she said.
The issue comes as the region shivered through one of its coldest nights on Tuesday, with the mercury dropping to 2.8C in Geelong.
An AusNet spokeswoman said its network upgrade – which includes a 4km extension of its existing transmission pipeline – was set to be finished by winter 2021.
“Once this is complete, it will boost the gas supply to the fringe parts of the network in Torquay and Barwon Heads, improving the experience for these customers,” she said.
“We are doing all we can to make adjustments during peak periods until the network upgrade project is complete.
“Regrettably, there may be times where customers at the fringe of the network may occasionally experience gas supply issues when demand is very high.”
AusNet urged customers experiencing gas supply issues to contact its call centre on 13 67 07.