A recent review on regional fuel prices in NSW has placed Moruya and Batemans Bay as more expensive than other towns including Goulburn, Ulladulla, and Nowra.
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Moruya was ranked 14th and Batemans Bay 16th with the average price of unleaded around 124.3 cents per litre.
The review was carried out by the Motormouth website, which provides up-to-date prices on fuel across NSW.
But this information does not tell the full story, according to Moruya independent fuel suppliers Gerald Masterson and Robert Turnbull.
The large suppliers, including Caltex and Shell, regulate the price of fuel and dictate the cost of petrol to the smaller businesses.
Mr Masterson said he has been in the industry for 19 years and knows independents are placed at a disadvantage compared to large suppliers’ outlets.
“Being privately owned, it puts us behind the eight ball to start with. We have to buy at rack price, while others can buy at rack price plus a discount,” he said.
“From what I understand they buy at a discounted price. That’s what I’m told.”
Mr Masterson added that over the years he has been in business the price of fuel has followed an annual cycle of ups and downs.
Competition between bowsers has been made harder, according to Mr Turnbull, who said larger discount chains have sold fuel cheaper than what he could purchase it for.
“Where we make our money is in (store), not out there,” he said.
“We have a set margin, and that’s what we work on.”
He added that it was not viable for him to offer discounts in store to increase profits at the pump, but acknowledged there were regular customers who supported his business.
NRMA local director Alan Evans said that the ranking could be related to the distance of fuel transportation and smaller volumes purchased that places the price as higher.
“The town of Moruya is a smallish town when compared to Batemans Bay. You would expect a higher price at Moruya because there is greater competition at Batemans Bay,” he said.
“The usual fundamentals are clearly in play with regional petrol pricing. If the Petrol Commissioner needs more powers to monitor pricing, particularly those prices in regional NSW that often creep well above Sydney and Canberra averages, then the government should grant them.”