Fuel costs to stay high for school break

THERE is no relief at the bowser for Townsville motorists wanting to fill up in the lead- up to the school holidays, with fuel to remain steady at about 155.4c a litre, 10c a litre too much.

RACQ spokeswoman Lucinda Ross said the fair price for fuel in Townsville was 145.7c a litre but the average price was about 155.4c a litre.

“We don’t expect to see any change to the price of fuel in Townsville in the lead- up to the school holidays,” she said. “Unfortunately as families head away during the holidays, they will be paying too much at the bowser. Fuel prices are 10c a litre too high, very frustrating for drivers.”

Ms Ross said she expected fuel prices in the city to stay steady during school holidays.

“The positive is that we don’t expect fuel prices to go any higher than they are now,” she said. “We would hope that with the global oil price softening, to see prices actually drop off a little bit. But we don’t expect to see that for a few weeks. That is very difficult to predict.”

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s ( ACCC) report on the Australian petroleum market for the March quarter was released this month, confirming prices had hit four- year highs. The report indicated customers were taking advantage of fuel price apps and websites as risks to global crude oil supplies caused local and international price rises.

The ACCC and RACQ also suggested drivers turn to fuel price websites and apps to shop around as petrol prices peak.

Ms Ross said motorists should shop around to find the lowest price. “Even if fuel is only 1c cheaper per litre, vote with your wallet and support the service stations that keep the price of fuel down,” she said.

“There are some service stations in Townsville that are selling fuel at about 150c per litre, such as Puma Cluden, and it is operators such as that the public should be supporting.”

Ms Ross said Mackay prices were at 157.5c a litre and Rockhampton at 156c a litre.