New Longford Plants Manager, Clinton Gentle, hits the ground running

It sure has been an exciting time to transition into my new role as Longford Plants Manager. The critical role we provide in reliably supplying gas to Australians day in, day out, has certainly been highlighted as we work to overcome the energy challenges our country has been experiencing.

It is impressive to see first-hand the Longford team’s professionalism and enthusiasm as they stepped up to the challenge, creating innovative solutions which resulted in our ability to increase production from 970 terajoules a day, to up to 1040 terajoules per day during this time of need. 

The extra 70 terajoules a day of Gippsland gas we are now producing out of Longford is equivalent to nearly three times the amount of gas used in Tasmania each day. A special thanks to my team for all that you do to make this happen safely, each and every day.

Since making the move to Sale, I have really enjoyed getting to know my way around the neighbourhood and surrounding areas. I have particularly enjoyed meeting with members of the community. As a child, I grew up within a regional community and I appreciate everything it has to offer. I look forward to my wife and two children joining me in the next few weeks, in time for the start of the next school term.

Last month our Gippsland team was grateful for the opportunity to partner with Foodbank Victoria and the Sale Salvation Army to distribute over 3,000 kilos of fresh fruit and pantry staples to over 150 local families. It was a privilege to personally be a part of providing some reprieve for those in need and play a small part in supporting food security for members of our community.

I valued the chance to meet many community stakeholders at the end of May at the annual Longford community dinner. It was great to chat through our ongoing community contributions, coveted apprenticeship program, and recent announcements, including the South East Australia Carbon Capture and Storage Hub. This project ensures we as a company are a part of leading the energy transition in Australia whilst also creating further job opportunities right here in Gippsland. 

We also provided an update on our decommissioning program. As we continue to plan for decommissioning our non-producing facilities, we are working with relevant stakeholders to find solutions that balance environmental impacts and benefits with the needs of the community and regulatory requirements. This ongoing communication is essential for ensuring our approach to decommissioning and the work we are undertaking is aligned with the community’s needs and expectations.