one of the first loca

tions in Victoria to be

connected to natural

gas last week under the

current National Gas

Extension Program.

State and Regional

Development Minister

John Brumby presided

at the installation of a

gas meter at a new

home in Cushing Ave,

seven months ahead of

schedule.

He said the con

nection followed the

laying of the 16km of

supply main pipes from

Ballarat.

Mr Brumby said it

was a great day for

businesses and house

holds in Creswick.

"Connection to natu

ral gas can save an

average household be

tween $600 and $1200 a

year. Some businesses

can save up to $30,000 a

year," Mr Brumby said.

"There are economic

benefits, convenience

and it's cheaper."

Mr Brumby said he

didn't expect to be in

Creswick for a con

nection ceremony un

til the new year.

"Gas distributor SP

AusNet completed

works seven months

ahead of schedule," he

said.

"All residents with

supply mains in Cres

wick are able to be

connected to natural

gas from today."

Hepburn Shire Coun

cil Creswick ward

councillor Janine

Booth was pleased the

project was ahead of

schedule.

"It will provide a sig

nificant saving to

households, as well as

providing environ

mental and social ben

efits," she said.

Cr Booth said the

project had been a re

sult of community

members and council

working together to

demonstrate the needs

and benefits of having

natural gas.

Ballarat Province

MLC Dianne Hadden

said she was disap

pointed with the

Brack's Government's

handling of the Natu

ral Gas Extension Pro

gram.

"Mr Brumby and Mr

Bracks have deceived

people of Creswick," Ms

Hadden said.

"They have not de

livered what they

promised."

Ms Hadden said the

Bracks Government

failed to tell residents

that less then 60 per

cent of households

would get natural gas

and that there would

be a surcharge of $3 a

gigajoule for 20 years.

"The people of Cres

wick have been conned

and duped," she said.

"They will be paying

for the project them

selves."

Ballarat East MLA

Geoff Howard said resi

dents could start con

necting to natural gas.

"People will start

seeing that it is real

and they can get con

nected," he said.

Haymarket Gas Re

tailer, located in the

former Creswick Fire

Station, is available

for prospective gas

customers. It provides

an agency for AGL gas

retailer and gas ap

pliances.