General News
6 December, 2024
Community frustrated by fuel shortage
It's not quite a pub with no beer, but it can be a service station with no fuel, and Rainbow residents are frustrated the bowsers at their local servo are often, according to them, bone dry.
A community member, who wished to remain anonymous, said there was no fuel, or at least a severe shortage, at least once a month at Rainbow's sole service station.
It has mainly affected the supply of unleaded fuel, but reports indicate diesel has also been impacted.
They said it has been happening for an extended period and it is causing frustration in the town.
The resident said they want to do the right thing by the business, and 'keep buying local', but it's a challenge when the service can't be relied on.
With the bowsers empty, drivers needing fuel must make the trek to Hopetoun or Jeparit to fill up their tanks (if they have enough fuel left to do so).
It's left one user on the social media page Rainbow, Vic, Community Noticeboard asking if, as the only fuel supplier in town, the owners of the station have a 'due diligence obligation' to residents and tourists.
The fuel situation left the fire brigade in a predicament last week, when they were called out to attend a fire, but had no fuel to do so.
Captain of the Brigade at Rainbow, Andrew Newnham, confirmed they source their diesel from the service station usually, but last Friday were forced for the first time, to rely on the Shire to provide them with fuel.
He said besides the dangerous impact potentially for the community, if they needed emergency services and they couldn't access fuel, it certainly wasn't a good look for tourism to have no available diesel or unleaded.
"We have concerns about the potential of no fuel, and if we have an incident that is major, where we need 10 or 15 tankers, we are going to be struggling," he said.
Another concerned resident, who also requested to be anonymous, asked what would happen if there was a bushfire and people needed to get fuel to escape the town.
They said they have encountered the issue at least four or five times and knew of an incident where tourists were stranded in the town, with no fuel and had to get some delivered to them from Horsham.
The community member said the problems seemed to escalate when the service station switched suppliers and has been ongoing since.
They said it was time for a 24-hour, card fuel facility to be installed in the town.
According to the service station owner, the most recent issue was caused by a logistical problem, after the service changed to a new supplier.
He said the problem had now been rectified.