CASH-STRAPPED Daylesford residents say they are paying up to 30 cents more a litre than their Melbourne counterparts to fill up their tanks.
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While petrol prices in Ballarat plummeted to 99 cents a litre on Friday, Daylesford residents were paying significantly more. And motorists took to social media to express their outrage.
James Harris told The Advocate he was sick and tired of being ripped off in the tourist town and thought residents deserved cheaper petrol prices.
Mr Harris said retailers were taking advantage of Daylesford’s status as a tourist haven – and could not see any other reason for jacked up prices than pure profiteering.
“It’s ridiculous,” Mr Harris said.
“I visit Melbourne once a month.
“Recently petrol was 1.18 cents per litre in Melbourne and it was 1.48 cents per litre in Daylesford.
“That’s a 30 cent per litre difference.”
Mr Harris said he could not understand the price difference.
RACV fuel spokesman Michael Case urged motorists to “shop around” to find the cheapest price.
The RACV publishes a list of the fuel prices for 30 regional areas. Daylesford is not included in that list.
Mr Case said areas that had fewer residents and fewer retailers typically had higher prices.
“We urge motorists to buy petrol where it is cheaper, hopefully that will send the message to retailers,” Mr case said.
Mr Harris said inflated prices were common across the board – with drivers paying more for unleaded petrol, diesel and gas.
Shane Biggs, who expressed his disgust at fuel prices on social media, says gas prices in Daylesford are higher than any smaller regional town.
Like Mr Harris – he believes companies are exploiting the town’s tourist drive and amping up prices to make more money.
“We are getting screwed and the prices here have always been inflated,” Mr Biggs said.
Mr Biggs said a trip to Creswick saved him $17 in fuel, with recent discrepancies being more 30 cents between Melbourne and Daylesford.
“In December, on two occasions I bought LPG from Pascoe Vale South for 39.5 cents per litre, at the same time it was 75 cents per litre in Daylesford,” Mr Biggs said.
In December, on two occasions I bought LPG from Pascoe Vale South for 39.5 cents per litre, at the same time it was 75 cents per litre in Daylesford
- Shane Biggs
Mr Case did not believe it was necessary to have to more scrutiny over prices.
