MINYIP residents are continuing their fight to return fuel services to town.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The community was left without the essential service when the town’s only petrol station shut in late April.
Fuel pumps were officially removed on July 17.
However, Minyip Progress Association president Keith Daniells said there was still hope.
“We have formed a group through Minyip Progress Association and are currently in discussions with GrainCorp in regards to a block of land they own at Minyip,” he said.
“They are in the process of selling that land to us, and once we get it, we will then set up a petrol station through a fuel company to return petrol to Minyip.”
He said there were still processes the group had to go through before plans could go ahead.
“We have to seek council approval for planning and go through the proper channels,” he said.
“We’re still six or seven months off from fuel returning, but GrainCorp is going to bring in a surveyor to survey the block in the next two weeks.
“There is an offer in from one fuel company, and another company is about to send its proposal.
“So we’re just in the process of communication and waiting on everyone else at the moment. We have the funds to purchase the land.”
Located on Main Street, the town’s now closed BP petrol station was not big enough to install a drive-through self service.
Its 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 that no fuel pumps could be on the street because a spill could leak into drains.
Mr Daniells said fuel hadn’t been available in Minyip since May 1.
“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. However, people are still visiting.”
He said the lack of fuel could affect farmers during harvest.
“Farmers usually buy diesel in bulk, but they will come into town and fill up their mobile tanks duing harvest season,” he said.
“So this lack of fuel will cause them some problems during their busiest time of year.”
Minyip Progress Association’s next meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 1 at the Minyip Memorial Hall from 5pm.
