Deputy Premier Peter Ryan made the announcement in Swan Hill on Tuesday morning, saying Brookfield Infrastructure Group had been selected to connect gas to Heathcote, Invermay, Lakes Entrance, Maldon, Marong, Orbost, Terang, Swan Hill, Kerang, Robinvale and Nathalia.

The Courier has previously reported on fears the connection to Invermay would not go ahead, with the owner of Western Victoria’s gas network, AusNet Services, describing the town as “too expensive” to connect.

Mr Ryan said a minimum of 70 per cent of homes would be connected in Invermay, with the pipelines being directly connected to homes at no extra cost. 

However, he did say some residents with abnormally large properties might be required to pay some of the costs.

The connection will occur regardless of who wins the election in November.

Mr Ryan said he understood why some residents might have been doubtful the connection would ever occur. 

“Probably because the community felt some parts of the community were so spread out, the prospect of getting natural gas made it seem like it wouldn’t happen,” he said. 

“We promised to do it. Now we are going to do it.”

However, the process to get natural gas to homes is not as simple as it might be in other areas, with Brookfield providing a different solution to make the process more effective. 

The Nationals deputy leader Peter Walsh said Invermay and the other 10 towns would be connected using compressed natural gas (CNG) which is believed to be an Australian first.

“While natural gas has historically been transmitted via pipelines from the main grid, the high cost of laying long-distance pipes has meant a different approach was needed if we were to continue rolling out gas across regional and rural Victoria,” Mr Walsh said.

“Brookfield’s proposal will involve initial supply of CNG from its Derrimut facility and the creation of further ‘mother stations’ to compress the gas before it is trucked to ‘daughter stations’, to be located on the outskirts of town, in each of the 11 communities.”

Invermay Progress Association president Ian Martin said he was still hesitant the project would go ahead but was excited about the announcement.

“Very excited. The minister has come through on his pledge,” he said. 

“We hope the uptake of the gas will mean the project can go ahead.”

matthew.dixon@fairfaxmedia.com.au