THE Minyip community are without fuel after its only petrol station closed.
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Although the station technically closed on Tuesday, the pump ran out of fuel 48-hours beforehand.
The closure came after BP Advance sold Hopetoun, Murtoa and Minyip fuel outlets to Lowes Petroleum. The new ownership required fuel outlets to adhere to a new Environment Protection Authority ruling – no fuel pumps can be on the street because a spill could leak into drains.
The Minyip outlet located in the Main Street was not big enough to install a drive-through self service.
Minyip Progress Association president Keith Daniells said the situation was a huge burden on the community, businesses and tourism.
“It is an inconvenience that we are going to have to wear for awhile,” he said. “My main concern is that businesses might suffer and tourism will suffer to a degree, especially now with the Silo Art Trail bringing traffic through the town.”
Mr Daniells said the association are in the process of purchasing a Graincorp site for a new fuel outlet, however, the land needs to be surveyed and subdivided before plans can move forward.
“It’s going to be a long process and it can be frustrating because the association can move very swiftly, but when we are in the hands of bureaucracy, it holds the process up. We cannot make bureaucracy move quicker and we have to work with them,” he said.
In the meantime, Mr Daniells suggested people plan ahead and refuel their cars before driving to Minyip.
“I will be holding a very small amount of fuel for people who are in desperate need, otherwise the closest fuel outlet is in Rupanyap,” he said. “Diesel is also available during the weekday mornings.”
Read more: Fight to keep the Minyip fuel station
Minyip resident and Yarriambiack councillor Corinne Heintze said the petrol station’s closure was an inconvenience, but “there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
“We are in the process of subdividing, which will then go to council for approval. Once we own that site we’ll go to the fuel companies to see who can give the best value for money and for the community,” she said. “These things don’t happen in a hurry.”
This is the latest blow to small Wimmera towns where the post office in Marnoo, the Commonwealth Bank in Kaniva, the Bank of Melbourne in Stawell and Ararat and the Brim pub are just some of the businesses to shut its doors.