The Western Australian government and the City of Albany have joined forces to manage the decommissioning of the town’s ageing gas network, unveiling a AU$10.8 million investment to support residents and businesses through the transition.
The funding comes after energy provider ATCO advised that the Albany Gas Distribution System is nearing its end of life.
The network is set to be phased out in stages over three years, sparking a coordinated effort to ensure the community has access to affordable and sustainable energy alternatives.
The state government approved AU$9 million as part of the upcoming State Budget, which will be dedicated to converting LPG connections in local social housing properties to alternative energy sources.
The remaining AU$1.8 million is earmarked for comprehensive transition planning. A dedicated Albany Gas Transition project team has been established within the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification to evaluate options for the wider community and provide direct support to affected customers.
The state government and the City of Albany have also secured a commitment from ATCO to defer the decommissioning of the city centre until the final phase of the process.
“Our CBD is the heart of Albany’s retail and hospitality industry,” said City of Albany Mayor Greg Stocks.
“These operators will need the greatest amount of time to transition away from the reticulated gas network. Knowing the CBD will be the last to be decommissioned provides critical breathing room.”
A working group, including local representatives and industry stakeholders, has been convened to guide the transition. This group will oversee the staging of the decommissioning and determine the necessary support measures to ensure a smooth shift for the roughly 40 local businesses and residents involved.
Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson emphasised that the government is focused on long-term energy security.
“Today’s announcement is about ensuring the Albany community has the support they need to successfully navigate this transition,” the minister said.
“We know this change will have impacts for households and businesses across Albany, which is why we are bringing together local stakeholders, industry and government to plan carefully and collaboratively.”
The government has advised that no immediate action is required by customers at this time, with further details on ATCO’s specific decommissioning timeline to be released as they become available.