Cheapest fuel: On Thursday, March 17, the new 7-Eleven had the cheapest prices in Shepparton. Store manager Simon Duggan says feedback from customers has been great.
Photo by
Daneka Hill
Fuel prices are continuing to soar, so The News hit the road and spoke with drivers right at the source.
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Across town on Thursday, March 17, most petrol stations were ghost towns except for three: the new 7-Eleven, the Pine Rd Apco and the Benalla Rd Liberty.
The ‘cheap three’ were bursting at the seams as drivers pulled in to top up their tanks at the sight of E10 at 201.9c/litre (Apco, Liberty) and 197.9c/litre (7-Eleven).
Honda Odyssey driver Karona Akthar said she’d pulled into the 7-Eleven station for the first time after spying the low price.
The News was also asking people if they were considering an electric car in light of the fuel prices.
“Not really,” Ms Akthar said. “I don’t know yet.”
Across from her Rachael Lambert was filling up a Ford Focus.
“It’s pretty dear, I came in to top up the tank because I think it’s going to go up tomorrow,” she said.
Reece Mulvihill was filling up a Toyota HiLux.
“Diesel is not really fun, but I can’t do much about it, I have to get to work,” he said — diesel was 18 cents more expensive then E10.
7-Eleven store manager Simon Duggan said feedback had been good after the store opened two weeks ago.
“As the new store, we’ve got to have cheap fuel prices. We’ve also got an app (My 7-Eleven) where customers can lock fuel prices for seven days. So today they might engage the fuel lock and its will stay that price for them for a week.”
Further down the road, Apco was the busiest of the ‘cheap three’.
Peter Burnett was driving with his wife, ute and caravan to Melbourne from Queensland to see his daughter and family after two years apart.
“The prices are going crazy, poor old pensioners. People might say we should stay home but we’re making the most of it (open state borders) while Dan will let us,” Mr Burnett said.
“The tank was only half-empty but we were driving past and saw what it was so pulled in.”
Further down was Geoff Wall from Numurkah; he said prices were “too dear” but he wasn’t any closer to buying an electric vehicle.
“I’ve got an electric scooter, that’s enough for me,” Mr Wall said while fuelling up his Holden Commodore Omega.
Michael Tenace had knocked out a tooth that morning and needed to drive into town to see the dentist — hence, a visit to the petrol station with his Honda CR-V.
“What can you do about them?” he said of the prices.
“You’ve got to drive.”
Georgie Peacock said she was not considering electric after topping up her tank with $60 in fuel.
“There is nothing we can do about the prices, hopefully it will calm down next week like they say it will,” she said.
Joseph Tomasino was topping up the tank in preparation for a Melbourne trip.
“The prices are shocking, but I’m not considering electric,” he said.
In the red: Prices at the Benalla Rd Liberty on March 17.
Photo by
Daneka Hill
Over at the Liberty Jodie Bennett said she couldn’t complain about the Shepparton price.
“Last week in NSW I paid $2.18, here I’m paying $2.05,” she said.
Colin Wignell said as long as he could still buy petrol, he was happy.
“They do need to lower the taxes on fuel,” Mr Wignell said.
“But I’ve got no choice put to pay. I’m always on the road for work. There is no fuel card, I’m the boss.”
Mr Wignell wasn’t in favour of electric vehicles.
“God no, that way lays hidden expenses further down the line, but that’s just my opinion as a motor mechanic.”
The News could spot only one driver fuelling up outside the ‘cheap three’.
Marcus Patterson was filling up his work ute at the Kialla BP.
“I have a fuel card, so I don’t care,” he said.
“I don’t have my own car. I’ve had a company car for the last 10 years.”
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