Pain at pump as petrol prices go from low to woe
MOTORISTS in the Geelong region have been feeling the sting at the pump, with petrol prices rising by up to 30 cents a litre in a matter of hours this week.
The 110.9 cent charge for a litre of unleaded petrol celebrated by motorists on Mon- day had risen to 139.9 cents at most stations by yesterday morning. The increase equates to an additional $15 to $20 per tank for most families.
But business was booming yesterday morning for privately owned petrol station APCO, which initially refrained from drastically increasing its prices.
But APCO service station director Peter Anderson said it was only a matter of time before it too lifted its prices.
While APCO aimed to offer cheaper options, Mr Anderson said a big price gap between his station and others was simply not feasible.
“It can’t stay there, we’re losing our money. We will be raising our prices very shortly,” he said yesterday morning.
RACV fuel spokesman Michael Case said he drove to Geelong from Melbourne on Tuesday for a meeting at Deakin and noted unleaded petrol prices at BP stations on the Ring Road were $1.10 in the morning, on his way into Geelong, but had surged by the time he travelled home that afternoon.
Geelong petrol prices gen- erally followed the Melbourne cycle, with prices inevitably rising and falling, he said.
“It doesn’t make much sense, but it’s just how it is,” Mr Case said.
“It’s a matter of being aware of the cycle and trying to follow it and fill up when you first see the lower prices. Don’t wait too long, because sometimes it doesn’t last long.”