Servos put on notice
Outlets on deadline to join pricing app
WITH up-to-date petrol prices around Cairns now available at the touch of a finger, local servos that are still not on board have three months to comply or cop large fines.
The State Government started a two-year trial of realtime fuel price reporting, requiring all Queensland petrol stations, independent or corporate-owned, to supply up-todate fuel prices via an online portal to be used by fuel price apps and websites.
Under the new regulations, when a price changes, servos have half an hour to update the price information.
A Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy spokeswoman said single operators would be fined $2611, while large retailers could face fines of up to $13,000.
Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said over 90 per cent of Queensland retailers had come on board, but a few still needed time to get the systems in place.
“We’re encouraging all small independent retailers to get on board, which is why we have the three-month grace,” he said.
The free-to-register app MotorMouth is one of several apps supplying up-to-date fuel price information.
Non-suppliers will be shown in grey on the app, which currently includes a number of independent retailers as well as major retailers around Cairns.
Once the system starts being enforced at the end of the three-month grace period, every dot on the map will need to be coloured.
Residents have welcomed the move, with Machans Beach resident Elena Fueger saying it would make it easier to hunt for the cheapest prices.
“I try to use the internet to look for the cheapest prices I can, but a lot of sites are not reliable,” she said.
Dr Lynham said the department would get in contact with all retailers still not signed up before the grace period ended.