St Helens set to lose LPG

ST HELENS will be without liquid petroleum gas by mid-January, with the East Coast town’s sole provider to make its final delivery today.

British oil giant BP has confirmed that it will be withdrawing LPG from its St Helens outlet because of ‘‘ageing infrastructure’’, causing concern as the peak tourism season kicks off.

A BP spokesperson said the infrastructure was no longer commercially viable to upgrade because of low sales.

‘‘The decision was taken to withdraw the service in October, and BP notified LPG customers at the time,’’ the spokesperson said.

‘‘We understand that this decision may inconvenience LPG users in the community, which is why BP committed to a three-month phasing-out period.’’

St Helens’  only other LPG supplier, United, has been closed due to renovations.

Break O’Day Mayor Mick Tucker said it could be more than three months before it reopened.

Cr Tucker said the nearest LPG outlet was 76 kilometres away at  Bicheno and expressed concern about the negative economic impact that BP’s decision could have on the region.

‘‘There are a lot of people that come from the mainland who normally have gas only,’’ he said.

‘‘I’m extremely concerned about the effects it can have on our isolated East Coast communities.

‘‘Tourism is one of our major economic factors that creates the economy of the East Coast.’’

East Coast Regional Tourism Organisation chief executive Ruth Dowty said she would not be surprised if the situation  turned people off travelling to St Helens.

‘‘We are so reliant on our tourism business, particularly at this time of the year,’’ she said.

‘‘Our season runs through to Easter – what a time to turn it off.

‘‘It is really disappointing considering they have a monopoly on the marketplace at the moment.’’

Lyons Liberal MHR Eric Hutchinson, who has been in talks with BP management, said he understood that St Helens was one of five Tasmanian sites set to lose LPG.

Mr Hutchinson said the final shipment was expected to last between two and  three weeks.

‘‘I hope BP reconsider their position – at least until such time as there is an alternative, because this is quite problematic,’’ he said.