Mid West sets record high fuel prices as Gascoyne farmers face uncertainty while preparing for new season

The Mid West is setting unwanted records as prices at the bowser surpass previous peaks. The highest recorded unleaded price was $2.48/litre at Liberty S-Bend Caravan Park in South Greenough, between March 14-17. The average fuel price for the Mid West reached record highs, coming in at $2.34/litre on March 16. Diesel also hit record highs on March 15-16, with a peak of $2.89/litre at Caltex Tarcoola, and an average price of $2.70/litre on March 16. These statistics were provided by FuelWatch and calculated using data provided to them by fuel stations across the Mid West region. Since initial strikes on Iran by the USA and Israel on February 28, eyes all over the world are on the Strait of Hormuz. About 20 per cent of the world’s oil passes through the waterway, with Iran threatening vessels attempting to pass through the strait. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said he would be “announcing some names soon” of countries that would send assistance to get vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Geraldton’s prices have skyrocketed over the last fortnight, with eight service stations in town on Tuesday pricing their fuel at $2.39/litre. The lowest available was Smart Mart Pure Convenience at $2.23/litre. The average fuel price in Geraldton on Tuesday was $2.33/litre. Diesel prices were also surging, with Moonyoonooka Store the most expensive in town at $2.88/litre. The cheapest was United Rangeway Truck Stop at $2.59/litre. The average diesel price in town was sitting at $2.72/litre. The impact of war in the Middle East is being felt in every corner of the globe, including in Carnarvon — with growers already struggling due to damage caused by a recent heatwave and cyclone. Local mango grower Kevin Burkett said that the jump in price had been sudden. “When’s it going to bloody stop? And the big question I’ve had is, why is it being jacked up?” In Carnarvon, diesel prices reached as high as $2.89/litre at FDWA Carnarvon OPT on Tuesday. The lowest price in town was BP Carnarvon, which was $2.69/litre. Unleaded wasn’t much better, with the most expensive being Ampol Foodary Carnarvon at $2.55/litre and the cheapest Dunning’s KCD Fuels at $2.49/litre. Mr Burkett said the increased fuel prices put additional financial strain on preparation for the upcoming season. “We use a fair amount of diesel at this time of the year, everyone is pruning tree crop . . . and that’s pretty intensive sort of tractor work, specialised machinery,” he said. “I’m probably going through everyday at this stage, at least $150, maybe $200 worth of diesel a day.” WAFarmers CEO Trevor Whittington said: “The biggest challenge is the mining industry will be putting a lot of pressure on the State and Federal government to prioritise them. So we haven’t heard how the State Government is prioritising mining versus agriculture, country towns versus city servos.” Phil Frzop of the Carnarvon Growers Association said it was difficult to tell what sort of impact there would be if high prices continued. “It’s a crucial time of the year for us, because people are preparing land for the oncoming season for planting and whatever. So I don’t think it’s highly impacted yet, but I’m sure if it continues, it will do,” he said. According to Mr Frzop, fuel orders were not always being fulfilled in the region. He added the isolation of Carnarvon was an added difficulty. “All our fertilisers, chemicals and cartons and boxes, and whatever else we need, all got to come from the south, and then all our products got to be sent the other way,” he said. Higher fuel prices are already hurting wallets across the Mid West and Gascoyne, but it’s yet to be seen what the impact on food prices could be. “I’m not sure if it’ll reflect in the prices at the supermarkets, but honestly, can’t tell you at the moment,” Mr Frzop said. Mr Burkett added: “The interesting side to this is, if the price of fruit and veggies does go up, and whether any of that is reflected back in what the growers are paid, whether it just goes up at the checkout and it’s the retailer who’s getting the rise, not the bloody growers.” The State Government announced on Sunday that some road trains would be able to carry heavier fuel loads to regional WA starting this week. After a fuel security roundtable, it was decided that 27.5m and 36.5m road trains carrying petrol, diesel and/or fertiliser to “priority regions” would be allowed to transport an additional 10 tonnes per load from March 16.