Petrol prices have spiked across Melbourne, with the cost of unleaded to almost $1.80 a litre.
Sandringham and Black Rock in the city’s south-east, Hawthorn East in the eastern suburbs, Yallambie and Warrandyte in the north-east, and Tarneit and Truganina in the west are among the districts where drivers have been forced to pay ‘over the roof’ to fill up, according to RACV.
According to figures, motorists in the city’s north could get the same fuel for $1.36 in Craigieburn, the inner-west suburbs of Maribyrnong and Maidstone, and the city’s outer south-east in Dandenong.
Because Melbourne’s five-kilometre travel limit remains in effect, shopping around has its boundaries.
Industry analysts want more done to smooth out the cyclical peaks and troughs that drivers face, with experts estimating that drivers who fill up at a less expensive gas station can save up to $30 per tank.
“When you consider that the average tank is between 50 and 60 gallons,” said motoring analyst Steve Pizzati, “that can equal $25 or $30.”
There is some good news for regional Victorians out of lockdown, with the average petrol price in Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong around 10 cents per litre lower than in Melbourne.