Lonely gas station to get some love
Drivers on a rural stretch of highway should make sure they have enough gas in the tank as one of New Zealand’s loneliest petrol stations is about to be shut temporarily to undergo an upgrade.
From November 21, the Awakino service station will be shut for at least two weeks while the remedial work takes place.
No petrol or diesel will be available from the site during the duration of the upgrade.
The store and workshop will also be shut.
The service station on State Highway 3 is the sole fuel stop for those driving the 110 kilometre stretch of road between Urenui and Piopio.
The station had four attendants until recently, but these have been let go to make way for self-service pumps.
Waitomo Fuel recently bought the business from former leaseholders Laurel Patterson and William Tawhara, after it was put on the market in December 2016.
Waitomo Fuel managing director Jimmy Ormsby said from next week, the station will be fenced off and work will get underway.
He said the decision to replace the pumps was prompted by an incident at the station about eight weeks ago, when a customer hit one of the fuel pumps with his car.
Ormsby said instead of just fixing the existing pump, a decision was made to replace the fuel tanks and upgrade the site. The site will retain the four pumps, three of which will remain under a canopy.
‘‘We’re looking at reconfiguring the forecourt a bit so it’s got better access and it’s a bit safer,’’ he said.
He hoped the work would be finished within two weeks.
Ormsby said there were talks underway with someone who had shown interest in running the workshop and shop but if this arrangement was confirmed, it would not start until early 2018.
When the petrol pumps are up and going, they will be an unmanned, 24 hour, seven day a week operation, he said.
While locals had been advised about the temporary shut-down, Ormsby said he hoped the message spread further afield about the planned work so no motorists were caught short. For more information about the changes contact 0800 922 123.