Gassed up: Fuel deliveries set to return to Change Islands
Residents of Change Islands should be able to refill their gas tanks again starting next week. (Terry Roberts/CBC)
Deliveries of gasoline to Change Islands are expected to resume next week, which will fill residents' tanks three weeks after the town's only gas station ran out of fuel.
Mayor Paula Flood voiced her concerns to CBC Radio on Wednesday, saying tanks at D&E Variety had been empty since Dec. 12. D&E co-owner Alva Diamond said the last delivery of gasoline was on Sept. 28.
On Thursday, the town got word from Ultramar that deliveries would continue starting the week of Jan. 8. The town will now get its fuel from Lewisporte as opposed to Fogo Island.
"The ferry is always an issue for us, so we're working on getting dangerous good crossings so that the gasoline can come. So we're really pleased to say that we are going to get our first shipment next week, and it should be continued," Flood said Thursday.
Flood said the stoppage of deliveries ultimately came down to issues in communication and logistics, saying their regular operator retired and that Ultramar had concerns with moving the fuel by ferry.
Flood said her calls were finally answered when emergency response workers got involved — she had voiced concerns over how having empty tanks would impact services — along with the offices of MHA Derrick Bragg and Premier Andrew Furey.
"Everybody is relieved, and very thankful that it's been resolved," she said.
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