Power Fuel at Granville’s cheap petrol prompts traffic problems at Blaxcell St

A Sydney servo’s heavily discounted petrol is great for motorists as the cost of living soars but its exploding popularity is proving a burden for residents sick of the traffic chaos it generates.

Power Fuel service station at Granville has become a magnet for motorists thanks to offering fuel as cheap as 149.50 cents a litre but neighbours are calling for a crackdown on traffic measures to ease the congestion, which often sees cars queue 650m away.

On Monday and Tuesday, the Blaxcell St station offered E10 unleaded fuel for 149.5 cents a litre, unleaded 91 for 151.5c, premium 95 for 166.9c and diesel for 168.9c.

By comparison, the average price for unleaded petrol 91 in the Parramatta area was 160.5 cents a litre. Power Fuel’s nearest competitor, Speedway Granville, also at Blaxcell St, equalled the 151.5c bargain, along with four other outlets.

Drivers filling their tanks with diesel at Power Fuel could save 17c a litre, with the average price in the Parramatta area being 185.9c.

The prices are starkly cheaper compared with elsewhere in Sydney. At Penrith, the average price for diesel on Monday was 191.9 cents a litre and the cheapest outlet (Caltex at Werrington) was 177.90c.

Traffic queued up to take advantage of the cheap petrol at Power Fuel at Blaxcell St, Granville. Picture: John Appleyard

Even further west, the cheapest diesel was 181.9c and the average was 192.9c near Blacktown.

Bowsers in the Sutherland Shire offer diesel for an average of 189.9c a litre and the cheapest is 181.9c - that’s 13 cents more expensive than Power Fuel Granville.

Coles Express at Bondi Junction’s diesel was an whopping 203.9 cents a litre.

On the Northern Beaches, the average price of diesel is 187.9 cents, while the average is 192.9c.

But Power Fuel’s bowser bargains also stand out closer to home. Despite also operating on Blaxcell St, Speedway Granville sold diesel for 172.5c a litre on Monday - four cents more expensive than its rival on the same street.

The discounts are driving savvy consumers to Power Fuel 1.7km away.

But the thrifty savings are costing residents their sanity with the volume of traffic building up to reach the service station, where a pedestrian crossing is right in front of it.

A car drives straight through the pedestrian crossing outside the service station. Picture: John Appleyard

As a way to alleviate traffic, Cumberland Council recently agreed to build a median island over the pedestrian crossing, which would stop northbound drivers on Blaxcell turning right into Power Fuel.

Drivers would have to turn right on to Celia St or left on to Thomas St to navigate their way back to the station.

Carol and Steven Salloum, whose parents Michael and Violet have lived on Blaxcell St for 40 years, agreed the median island would improve congestion but want the council to take more action.

That includes relocating the crossing nearby to Woolworths, where most pedestrians are heading, but Ms Salloum was told by the council staff it was unsafe to have it near the roundabout at Louis St.

“We were told that putting the crossing closer to Louis St would be unsafe but we don’t why or how this is justified,’’ she said, noting there were several crossings near roundabouts in Granville including at William St and South St.

“There’s no valid explanation.’’

Carol and Steven Salloum with their father Michael want safety to ramp up on Blaxcell St. Picture: John Appleyard

The siblings are calling for the petrol station to have more than one main entrance, at Celia St, and the southbound bus stop to relocate and avert cars double parking.

The Salloums’ addressed a Cumberland Council meeting last week and successfully lobbied the council not to relocated the zebra crossing in front of their parents’ house.

Ms Salloum said the elderly were most exposed to safety risks at Blaxcell St, which is a main road linking Granville to Merrylands and Auburn.

“We did say the reason why the traffic is existing on that street is solely because of the petrol station across the road and the queue that is lined up to get in because their prices are so low,’’ she said.

Calls have been made to relocate the pedestrian crossing closer to Woolworths supermarket. Picture: John Appleyard

“That queue is the reason the bus can’t stop where it does and the reason why the crossing has become unsafe so for our parents to suffer as a result of that is totally unfair.’’

Councillor Joseph Rahme said the petrol station was trying to run a legitimate business “but that’s no reason for the families and houses on Blaxcell St to be punished or to be affected in their day-to-day living”.

The council deferred the matter and will prepare a report for the next traffic committee meeting which will identify more alternate measures to improve traffic safety at the pedestrian crossing.

It will also investigate suitable spots for the bus stop relocation if required.

Power Fuel was contacted for comment.

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