Seddon refuels after five-year drought
By JO GILBERT - The Marlborough Express
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Fuel is back in Seddon.
After five years without publicly available petrol or diesel pumps, the Southfuels 24/7 Seddon fuel station began operating with two 91-octane petrol pumps and three diesel pumps on October 22.
Co-owner Ross Flowerday said the $350,000 self-service station on the corner of Richmond and Wakefield Sts broke the 45-kilometre fuel drought between Ward and Blenheim.
Clair Clemmett's BP Awatere Garage in Seddon closed in 2004 after BP New Zealand removed the underground 91-octane petrol tank. The company said it had to remove the tank because it was 20 years old and at the end of its environmentally safe life.
The town had a diesel pump operated by FarmDirect, but it was available only to people with trading cards from the CRT farming co-operative, Mr Flowerday said.
"It's going to be a while to get a return on our investment here, but it's an investment for the community."
Prices would generally be only four to five cents a litre higher than town prices, he said.
The Southfuels station is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and accepts eftpos and credit cards, but not cash. One of its diesel pumps is high-flow, suitable for trucks and other large vehicles.
Setting up the station showed great "business nous", said Awatere ward councillor Andrew Barker. It was "very pleasing" that the town's 510 usual residents no longer had to travel 21km to the nearest station, in Ward.
To help the area's residents become familiar with the self-pay system, the station is holding an open day tomorrow from 11.30am to 3pm. Mr Flowerday said there would be a barbecue and a discount of 5c a litre.
According to its website, Southfuels is a Christchurch-based firm that services South Island rural, contractor, commercial and industry customers with bulk fuel and lubricant delivery. It carries Shell fuel.
