‘GAS for the Mallee’ should be first on the agenda for boosting the region,
according to Mallee’s only independent candidate Allen Ridgeway.
The
56-year-old former refrigeration mechanic has joined 11 other hopefuls in the
local Victorian seat at the upcoming Federal Election.
While not a ‘one-issue
candidate’, Mr Ridgeway said his natural gas plan was high priority because it
would bring jobs, retain youth and boost the overall prospects of the Swan Hill
and surrounding district.
“My main frustration is that none of the candidates
are talking about gas, and I know that gas equals jobs,” he said.
The main
obstacle in the push for gas so far has been a lack of demand, particularly from
industrial uses.
But Mr Ridgeway said that if built, the piped gas supply
would attract businesses, and gradually grow demand for natural gas.
Accordingly, the up front cost for the pipeline could be financed by a super
fund, with the expectation that the asset would increase in value, to be later
sold for profit.
“We’ve got a lot of decentralisation in businesses occurring
from the likes of Melbourne…if they come to the Mallee, then you have got a lot
of users,” Mr Ridgeway said.
“At the moment, because we have very few users,
it would cost a lot… but if you have a lot of users, it only costs a little
bit,” he said.
For more of this story, see Wednesday’s Guardian (August 21).
