10th September, 2015

Dear Currigee Residents

RE: CURRIGEE GAS SUPPLY AND CERTIFICATION

GAS SUPPLY

The gas supply issue has proven to be very vexing and your Committee (and several others) have investigated a whole range of options and potential suppliers to provide our houses with a regular service. It has been a frustrating process to say the least. However we do now have a workable solution available.

When Origin decided last year to cease supplying the island of 45kg bottles, their recommendation was to seek supply from other retail gas suppliers. We have investigated many such suppliers over the course of this year and the location and small market has meant that we have been unable to source a supply of these larger 45kg bottles. We have to accept that this is not an option for the medium term.

However, we have found a solution that will provide a supply, pick up and refill service utilizing 18kg bottles which looks like this.

Beach House Services is a company owned by Jay & Jodie Stroud. They are based at Couran Point and look after many of the houses there – cleaning, maintenance, car repairs, opening and preparing houses for arrival etc. They also look after some Currigee houses. They have proven to be honest, reliable, pleasant,and easy to deal with and always delivered on their promises.

Beach House Services are prepared to take on the delivery of gas to the island. They have sourced Australian made 18kg galvanised bottles which are assembled and stamped as they are ordered so that the purchaser will get a full 10 years before the bottles will need to be tested again for compliance. They can get them delivered from Coomera for $220 per bottle (empty), and they get a sufficient quantity in each order (12 bottles). Obviously each house would be required to purchase at least 2 bottles that would be labelled to the owners and owned by them.

The cost of a refill, which would be picked up from the house, taken to Coomera to be refilled, and returned to the house would be $85 per bottle. This is obviously subject to the LPG price. (They are not able to disconnect and connect bottles at Currigee for liability reasons). The initial fill of the new bottle and delivery to the island would be $75 so they are not double handling the first fill.

A consequence of adopting an 18kg bottle supply will require that each house would be responsible to provide a stable non-combustible foundation for the bottles to sit on, and possibly a non-combustible stand approximately 450mm high, to enable connection of the 18kg bottle to the regulator – assuming the regulator is located for a standard 45kg bottle setup as most residences are.

Beach House Services is ready to commence this service. To proceed, each house needs to confirm their interest by emailing Beach House Services on and advising of following details:

  • Family Name
  • Block Reference number
  • Instructions of where you would like them delivered (Please remember, gas bottles cannot be stored in an enclosed area)
  • Contact phone number
  • Alternative email address (if any)

They will then forward to you an invoice and once paid will commence ordering the new 18kg bottles, fill and deliver. For the future, we are investigating an on-line ordering system through the Footprints website.

CERTIFICATION

Many houses have accepted the provided quotes to get their houses compliant to the latest legislation.

Given the recommended change to smaller 18kg bottles, we have approached the Gas Fitter to provide a solution that will cater for both 45kgs and 18kg bottles. Please be aware that this may affect your quotation by a small amount (we do not propose sending new quotations for individual approval).

Getting certified is really a separate issue to the actual supply and we, as the Committee, do strongly recommend each house is compliant to 2015 legislation and believe it was fine for residents to own, store and use 18kg bottles for house supply as long as the property is compliant with current gas installation requirements. You are most likely aware that non-compliance may affect your insurance but this is a matter for each house owner to consider.

To proceed with the compliance work in accordance with the previously issued quotes, send your details directly to Andrew Stewart who will pass them onto the builder - Michael Power and the plumber Peter Butler from NewTech plumbing and gas who will begin work from next week.Only residents who have not yet accepted their quote, need to respond.

Please email Andrew via with the following details:

•Yes to quote for $

•Your name:

•Email:

•Block address e.g. B1:

•Phone:

Vote of Thanks

Lastly, I would like to record the significant work of many Committee Members on this matter. Further, non-member, Andrew Stewart, has spent many many hours investigating and orchestrating a solution and I thank him on behalf of the Community.

We hope many houses take advantage of these arrangements and enjoy a reliable supply of gas ongoing.

Yours sincerely

Rob Quinn