LPG supplier goes above and beyond
Months on from Cyclone Gabrielle, Whakatane-based LPG supplier Bob’s Gas is still playing a critical role in keeping stranded Te Tairāwhiti communities supplied with LPG bottles – a vital energy source, especially when power is down.
Soon after the cyclone hit in February this year, Bob’s Gas got urgent LPG bottles and cookers to Civil Defence in Ruatōria for distribution and took over delivery of Genesis’s home, commercial and marae LPG cylinders to areas from Tokomaru Bay to Tikitiki.
Genesis is one of the few gas retailers with customers in the area, and Bob’s Gas was determined to ensure the gas got through at this difficult time for the people that lived there.
Ron Woolerton, owner of Bob’s Gas, says that determination and collaboration with the locals has continued months on.
“Our regular delivery run for Genesis ends just before Tikitiki, but when access is restricted, we are happy to extend the run to cover affected areas.
“The by-pass into Tokomaru Bay was certainly a challenge, and not suitable for our usual delivery trucks, but working with local contractors and volunteers we were able to get regular deliveries into the area.
“These situations are not something I expect my staff to be able to navigate, so I go and do the deliveries myself, often having to overnight on the coast to ensure all deliveries are made.”
Hilton Collier, Ngāti Porou local, has been active in the iwi response and has been pleased to see community and companies come together to solve logistics.
“Bob’s Gas with local roading gurus such as Kat [Hubba] Kaiwai from Tairāwhiti Contracting continue to get through munted roads to keep whanau supplied with gas,” Collier says.
With East Cape Road, Whareponga Road, and many others still difficult to access, Bob’s Gas is currently working with locals to do LPG runs. Deliveries are being made safely with a 4x4 ute and tail lift trailer as the roads can’t currently be accessed by the usual delivery trucks.
“Bob's Gas have been an absolute delight to deal with for getting gas to cut off areas on the Coast. They went above and beyond and their comms were excellent,” Kaiwai says.
Woolerton arrived back in Whakatane from the coast this weekend.
“While it is obvious contractors have made fantastic progress in trying conditions there remains a huge amount of work to do to resume service as normal for some customers.
“We are pleased to see that the bridge into Horehore road is open now, albeit to light vehicles, so we will once again be able to access this area with the ute and trailer. It will still be a number of months before usual delivery trucks can get in though.
“The work on Whareponga road is impressive. This is a road we have had delivered into a number of times over the past 12 months as it is very susceptible to flood damage. Still not the domain of LPG delivery trucks, most of the road is relatively easy to access with the ute and trailer combo.
“The last 1/3 of the road is still a long way from ready for delivery trucks and I expect we will be looking after deliveries here for some months yet.
“The work left is significant, and the timeframes long. Many of the roads we access have completion targets of 2024 and beyond, and of course that will be subject to weather further impacting the landscapes.
“We are committed to the coast as demonstrated by our now three times a week deliveries between Whakatane and Te Araroa, and weekly from Te Araroa to Tokomaru Bay, even if it means we have to travel via Gisborne to get there,” Woolerton says.
GasNZ Chief Executive, Janet Carson, says many whānau in rural Te Tairāwhiti depend on LPG for cooking as a primary energy source.
“Regular access to what most Kiwis take for granted, like 9kg swap cylinders, is critical. Since Gabrielle, Bob’s Gas has been the only company able to get swap cylinders into Tokomaru Bay, Te Puia Springs and Ruatōria, providing a weekly delivery service.
“As well as the Coast’s regular LPG customers, when the power was down after the cyclone, whānau that normally cooked with electricity also turned to portable and versatile LPG as well. The challenge then became making sure the supplies could get through,” she says.
“Bob’s Gas, supported by Tairāwhiti Contractors and others, managed to travel through safely within the first fortnight following the cyclone. Latching on to their loads, GasNZ took the opportunity to get extra LPG to the community Civil Defence posts along with butane cookers and cylinders.
“GasNZ companies were pleased to pitch in with LPG donations but the logistics meant we would not have been able to get the gas bottles there without Bob’s Gas and locals coming together,” Carson said.