Alarm over supply shortage

Letea Cavander and AAP | 22nd December 2008

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A MASSIVE fuel shortage in Bundaberg at the weekend sparked “panic” buying as many customers filled any container that could hold unleaded or diesel before the Christmas holiday period.

Yesterday afternoon about 2pm, the Caltex on Bourbong Street had run out of unleaded, along with Mobil on Bundaberg-Gin Gin Road and Shell at Sugarland Shoppingtown.

The Woolworths Service Station on Barolin Street was closed and so was United Service Station on FE Walker Street.

But the Caltex on Walker Street was still selling unleaded and diesel yesterday afternoon, as was the Mobil and BP service stations in Takalvan Street.

Melbourne tourist Robert Kling was busy filling up jerry cans for his brother, who runs a Bundaberg lawnmower business, at the BP on Sunday.

“He got told over east that he could only fill up two jerry cans,” Mr Kling said.

“He needs petrol to run his business and diesel to run his truck.”

Mr Kling also had plans to travel to the Gold Coast in the new year.

“Hopefully we'll have petrol again by then, otherwise I won't be going anywhere,” he said.

Fellow BP customer Mike Seary visited three service stations that had run out of fuel before joining the queue at Takalvan Street.

He said he went to visit another BP service station but the traffic was “ridiculous”.

“Traffic's lined up there as well,” he said.

“It's a joke.”

Other motorists waited up to 20 minutes to use bowsers at Mobil on Takalvan Street.

The message from United Service Station commissioned agents Brett and Bonnie Scovell was that if people did not stop panic buying then the city could run out of fuel.

For the first time in nearly three years, the pair had to shut the doors of their petrol station after a flood of customers filled up their vehicles, 44-gallon drums, jerry cans - anything that could hold fuel and diesel.

“If customers don't slow down we're going to run out of fuel in Bundaberg,” Mrs Scovell said.

“We had (customers) 10-12 deep at the counter for two days.”

The commissioned agent said the store had sold out of jerry cans before running out of unleaded about 2pm on Saturday and closing yesterday morning.

Mr Scovell said people were also attracted to the store because it was selling fuel for 99.7c per litre on Friday - a match on the Brisbane price for unleaded.

“We're hoping to get a fuel load (today),” he said yesterday.

Bundaberg emergency services had back-up plans in place as petrol stations around the city began to dry up.

Queensland Ambulance Service operations co-ordinator Rick Tenthy said paramedics were advised early of the Caltex refinery emergency and put plans in place as the weekend approached.

“On the whole we have arrangements in place across the region to ensure we can respond to emergencies.

Bundaberg Police Sergeant Peter Moloney also said the police had “contingency plans” in place to maintain service delivery throughout the region.

RACQ spokesman Gary Fites said motorists should only buy the fuel they need as the refinery remains at a fraction of its full capacity until the end of the month.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said an arrangement between fuel suppliers would ensure the gap in the market was filled.

“There will be no shortage of petrol over the Christmas period,” she said.

“There are arrangements in place between all the major suppliers that when something like this happens, other suppliers will move in and fill the gap.”