NSW Diesel Prices Swing 176 Cents From Finley to the Outback While Western Sydney Servos Quietly Do the Right Thing
Right, so here's one that caught my eye this arvo. Diesel prices across New South Wales are sitting at an average of 326.5 cents a litre, which is already enough to make your eyes water. But the real story is the gap between the cheapest and the most expensive. We're talking 176.1 cents difference across the state, which is comfortably the biggest spread in the country right now.
Now, you'd be mad not to look at Finley first. This little town down near the Murray has a servo selling diesel at 198.9 cents. Under two dollars a litre. I had to double check that one myself. The average across Finley's four stations is 296.7, so not everyone there is doing the right thing, but that cheapest price is something you just don't see anymore. If you're towing the boat down to the river or running a truck through the Riverina, it's worth knowing about.
Meanwhile, the most expensive diesel in NSW is sitting at 375 cents. That's nearly double what Finley is charging. Fair dinkum, the difference between those two prices on a 70 litre tank is about 123 dollars. That's not loose change, that's a week's groceries for the family.
Western Sydney Holding Its Own
Here's the thing, right. If you're in my neck of the woods out west, the servos are actually doing a decent job compared to the state average. Granville has diesel locked in at 309.5 cents across three stations. No spread at all, which means the servos there are matching each other and keeping it competitive. Greenacre is even better at 307.9 cents at its cheapest.
Fairfield is sitting at 310.5 to 319.5, with just a 9 cent spread across four servos. Auburn is similar at 313.5 to 324.9. And Ingleburn has a spot at 302.9 which is genuinely competitive. Smithfield is the tightest of the lot, three stations all within 40 cents of each other around the 319.5 mark.
Compare that to what folks are paying out in West Wyalong where diesel has jumped 8 cents to 334.9, or Deniliquin which copped the biggest increase in the state at 13.2 cents to land at 335.6. Regional towns are wearing it.
The Regional Towns Taking a Hit
Deniliquin stands out as the sharpest mover. A 13.2 cent increase overnight is the kind of thing that makes truckies and farmers properly cranky. When your fuel bill is already measured in thousands, an extra 13 cents a litre adds up before you've finished your morning coffee.
Goulburn is showing a 24 cent spread between its cheapest (305.9) and most expensive (329.9), so if you're passing through on the Hume, it pays to shop around rather than just pulling into the first servo you see. Griffith is similar with a 30 cent spread across six stations, cheapest at 309.9.
Up north, Moree has a 20.9 cent spread and Gunnedah is at 16.4 cents between cheapest and dearest. Worth checking your options if you're in those areas.
How NSW Compares to the Rest
Victoria is actually the cheapest state for diesel right now at 324.6 average, followed by Queensland at 325.6. NSW sits in the middle of the pack at 326.5. South Australia is at 329 and Tasmania at 329.4. The Northern Territory has the wildest spread in the country at 293.9 cents between cheapest and dearest, but their average of 331.5 is the highest of any state.
The ACT copped the biggest overnight jump, with diesel up 8 cents, but with only 18 stations in the territory there's not a lot of competition to keep things honest.
What This Means for Your Week
If you're running diesel and you're anywhere in Sydney or the western suburbs, you're actually in a better position than most of regional NSW right now. The servos around Granville, Greenacre and Ingleburn are consistently below the state average.
For anyone doing a regional trip, have a look before you leave. A 176 cent spread means the difference between filling up smart and filling up stupid is real money. Worth keeping an eye on.
Look, end of the day, diesel is diesel and none of these prices are making anyone smile. But a bit of planning means more cash in your pocket for the important stuff. Can't argue with that.
