Australia: FuelWatch Highlights Price Competition in Perth

A FuelWatch survey of petrol prices at Perth's 305 fuel service stations over the past three months revealed price competition between two sites are less than 500m from each other along Wanneroo Road in Neerabup. The fuel brands were Peak and Liberty.

The Peak fuel service station was 0.34¢ below the Liberty fuel service station. Owner Neil Staltari, whose family has sold fuel at the Peak service station site for 40 years, said the two service stations were engaged in healthy competition that was driving prices down.

Mr Staltari said "We are able to sell cheap petrol, with low margins, because of the volumes we sell. We have a lot of regular customers and are always very busy. We've been selling fuel products here since 1971 and know what to do to make a business work. It can be tough but we get through." Mr Staltari said the station also had a workshop and a food servcies outlet "with the best burgers on this side of the river".

Down the road at Liberty, owners Lorraine and Charles Hoar have transformed the business since they took over in 2009. Mrs Hoar said "The site needed a lot of work when we arrived. But we've now developed a good business with a loyal clientele, including a significant number of truckers. We are able to keep prices down because of the high volumes we sell. Both fuel service stations are obviously competitive, which is obviously good for our customers and we have the best fried chicken - everyone loves it."

Compared with many other sites, the Neerabup fuel service stations sell a high ratio of diesel fuel. The FuelWatch survey revealed that the Coles Express fuel service station in Casuarina was the cheapest in the southern suburbs (134.94¢), while the United fuel service station in Mt Lawley was the best in the east (135.91¢). The Peak petrol station in Mundaring did best among the Hills suburbs, coming in 20th with a three-month average of 136.21¢.

PetrolWorld 010911 Source: WestAustralian