New 24-hour fuel stop for Kaitangata

Kaitangata now has a 24-hour fuel stop, thanks to some business confidence from a South Island company.

The McKeown Group, which owns 24/7 card-operated petrol and diesel stations throughout Otago and Southland, will officially open a fuel stop at Kaitangata, next to the Crescent Bar and Grill, tomorrow.

Kaitangata Promotions Group member Evan Dick said it was a positive move for the town and needed to be celebrated as another milestone. ‘‘It shows that the company is willing to invest in the community.’’

The town had lost its service station some years back.

‘‘It’s good for a community like ours to have these services back.’’

This capped off a successful year for the town, which was put on the national and international map in mid-2016 for its 12 affordable land and house packages. These were ‘‘ticking along’’, with some in the process of being built, amid a trades shortage. ‘‘We’ve got seven confirmed to be built next year.’’

A pre-school, which opened this year, was fully booked, the skate and BMX park established in 2016 always pumping, and the building of a community hub attached to the town’s church was coming along nicely, he said.

McKeown Group managing director Ken McKeown said it was good to see a small town ‘‘bouncing back’’ from decline.

In the past few years, the Oamaru-based company, which operates in Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin and Gore, had also opened at small places, including Nightcaps, Papatowai, Centre Bush and Kingston.

Technology, and a good rural customer base had made this possible, he said.

McKeowns was able to keep fuel prices competitive because the company followed a bulk-fuel commercial pricing model.

‘‘It’s a way of giving a bit back to communities.’’