The fuel crisis is hitting remote, rural and regional communities hard, with farmers, freight carriers, tourism operators and local government all expressing concerns about the lack of supply and the impact it is having on running their operations.
Chairman of the Country Mayors Association of NSW Rick Firman OAM said given the impact on the communities represented by member councils, the CMA has welcomed the opportunity to participate in the NSW government’s Rural and Regional Diesel Fuel Security Roundtable meetings.
“The meetings, two of which have been held in the last seven days, are enabling representative organisations from across the spectrum to come together to voice their concerns and discuss possible ways forward,” Cr Firman said in a statement last week.
“It is invaluable having farmers representatives, bulk rural carriers, freight transport operators, civil construction businesses, public transport, petroleum distributors, motoring organisations and state and local government in the one place to discuss the problems that we are all encountering.
“Remote, rural and regional NSW is the food basket of the state, it is imperative that we get the levers right in managing the fuel crisis if we are to ensure that produce from the regions continues to reach tables in the city. We need to ensure that a crisis in fuel does not generate a shortage of food, diesel in our rural, remote and regional communities is critical with sowing season about to commence for many.”
Cr Firman said it is a privilege to be involved in the roundtable meetings.
“We take our involvement very seriously. Not only are we there to speak about the issues that councils are having maintaining their services we are also speaking to the significant impacts the fuel crisis is having on rural industries and communities both economically and socially,” he said.
“While it is well and good for suggested responses to include greater use of public transport, we know that for most of the communities our members represent the only public transport is the school bus.
“Our members are reporting huge price increases, particularly in diesel. While we respect the state and federal government’s assessment of the current situation, that supply is not an issue, but distribution is, we question why if there is sufficient supply the price is increasing at such an alarming rate. Surely if there is sufficient supply then prices should remain unchanged. The very last thing we want to see is profiteering at the expense of remote, rural and regional communities who are so dependent on fuel supply.”
Cr Firman said the CMA board and members appreciate the Premier and Minister Sharpe including the organisation in the roundtable discussions.
“We look forward to further meetings of the roundtable and working beside them to achieve positive outcomes. We are also regularly speaking with the Minister for Energy, the Hon Penny Sharpe and our members to ensure that we are able to table their concerns about the escalating crisis,” Cr Firman said.
