Bulla residents fed up with being ‘‘at the mercy’’ of bottled gas suppliers are again urging the state government to commit to a natural gas pipeline.
Western Metropolitan MP and long- time resident Bernie Finn said that for many years Bulla had watched as towns across the state were connected to the more efficient, and less expensive, energy source.
‘‘Poor old Bulla doesn’t get a thing,” Mr Finn told State Parliament. “It’s still served by individual gas canisters on each property and is at the mercy of gas companies.’’
Urging Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio to act, Mr Finn said a recent gas truck shortage meant some residents had to go without gas.
‘‘You can imagine what that does to a family in the middle of winter,’’ he said.
Bulla’s Bob Laidler said that in addition to the high cost faced by those forced to find other ways to heat and cook, the lack of natural gas was holding the village of 651 people back.
‘‘The main hamlet is being stifled,’’ he said.
‘‘People certainly want natural gas as an option because the other options are so expensive.’’
Mr Finn said it was baffling to think that residents of a place that was two minutes from Melbourne Airport, eight minutes from Sunbury and 25 minutes from the city were still in such a position.
‘‘It is ludicrous that a town so close to the city of Melbourne, and to gas pipelines, has no gas itself,’’ he said.
