A Western Victoria upper house MP has called on the state government to support the extension of the gas pipeline supplying Horsham out to the Enterprise Estate south of the Wimmera River.
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In State Parliament on Wednesday, Andy Meddick of the Animal Justice Party urged Climate Change, Energy and Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio to help businesses and energy retailers achieve this.
He told the chamber he had met with Phil McFarlane of Carine Street-based business Australian Plant Proteins.
The consortium of companies is investing $20 million in stage one works to build a manufacturing plant in the industrial area that will process locally-grown crops into protein-rich powder. This powder can then be used to create plant-based foods.
Mr Meddick said the project was going ahead despite the pipeline not reaching the industrial park.
"It means they, and anyone else looking at building in the park, will have to truck in liquid petroleum gas to their facilities - a method which is quite expensive," he said.
"It's about 1.5 kilometres of extra pipeline required. Australian Plant Proteins has done all the hard work. They've gone to AGL and the other gas providers and got a cost estimate of $500,000.
"I believe the government should assist this fledgling industry in its advocacy for an extension - perhaps through grants - particularly because it could create up to 80 jobs."
APP company director Phil McFarlane has previously said it plans to spend a further $15 million in stage two of the development. Mr McFarlane declined to comment when approached on this issue.
Mr Meddick said he wanted to encourage other companies to enter the Wimmera's gas market.
"If this pipeline extension goes ahead... I believe the market needs to be opened up so these businesses and other residential properties can take advantage of more competition," he said.
Ms D'Ambrosio told the Mail-Times the decision to extend gas pipelines lay with the private companies that owned them.
"We encourage them to consider requests from regional communities and businesses," she said.
The 182-kilometre Carisbrook to Horsham gas pipeline is the only one serving the Wimmera. It is privately owned by Gas Pipelines Victoria, who has an agreement solely with retailer EnergyAustralia.
In February, retailers Origin Energy and Red Energy told the Mail-Times they were considering entering the gas market in the region.
A spokesman for EnergyAustralia said there were no barriers to other retailers entering the market, and that the company was happy to amend its arrangements with GPV.
"For this to happen, we encourage interested retailers to approach GPV. In any case, we have not been approached in recent months," he said.
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Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
