Mr Kennett says Victorians can expect to go without gas for two weeks and services would have to be restored gradually, although no decision is made about businesses or households having priority. Restrictions were likely to remain until well into 1999. Car manufacturers as well as food processors and workers in the metal industries are stood down or forced to take annual leave. Local councils open showers at oval and sporting venues. Meals on wheels is extended to health card holders dependent on gas.
Bread is transported from interstate bakeries.
Esso announces it will build a pipe to bypass plant 1 to allow gas to flow to plants 2 and 3. There are 210 people working on the plant including Esso workers, contract workers and CFA volunteers. Esso has brought in 20 experts from Esso operations around the world to supplement the teams working at Longford. Five thousand workers in the car manufacturing industries in Adelaide and Sydney do not have work as they rely on components from Melbourne. Bread and milk are rationed in supermarkets.