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October 2003 Issue No.22
In This Months Issue
FuelWatch Happenings
What's News?
Fuel Saving Tips
FuelWatch Price Leaders
Fuel Prices Around Australia
About this Newsletter
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Do you intend to take advantage of the Coles, Woolworths or IGA discount fuel offers? 

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FuelWatch Happenings
 

Hello FuelWatchers,

On the 21 August 2003 Woolworths Limited and Caltex Australia Limited announced plans for a 50/50 joint discount fuel venture. This followed the announcement of the commercial alliance between Coles Myer Ltd (CML) and Shell on 17 May 2003.

In an effort to understand how this additional proposed joint venture could affect fuel prices and FuelWatchers, we have summarised some of the central points from the Woolworths / Caltex proposal and press release. To read the compete news release, please click here.

 

The Woolworths / Caltex Proposal:
- Co-branded sites to be owned 50/50 by Woolworths & Caltex
- Woolworths/Safeway/Big W shoppers to get Caltex fuel at discounted prices (4 cents per litre off)
- Around 120 new sites will be initially added to the current 290 Woolworths sites
- There will ultimately be approximately 450 sites for Woolworths/Safeway/Big W shoppers across Australia
- All of the co-branded sites will be adjacent to Woolworths stores
- Continued quality fuel will be supplied to the 450 joint venture sites as Australian fuel quality specifications tighten from January 2004
- Caltex will manage the joint venture sites
- Woolworths will supply and determine the convenience store retail pricing in accordance with Woolworths pricing policy
- The joint venture sites will be independent of the Caltex network and will compete vigorously in the petrol market

Mr Dick Warburton, the Caltex Chairman said the joint venture would expand Caltex branding and deliver its quality fuels to approximately 300 more outlets while also gaining the benefits of Woolworths' buying for its convenience stores. "Furthermore, Caltex StarCard customers will be able to use their cards at approximately 300 additional sites", he said.

The proposed Woolworths & Caltex joint venture has yet to be approved by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The new Chairperson of the ACCC, Graeme Samuel, has voiced some concerns regarding the Woolworths / Caltex proposal and "the whole dynamic of the petrol retail market in Australia at the moment”. Mr Samuel also commented that "the independents have, according to our past examinations, traditionally been a very important part of the competitive process... If these sorts of tie-ups and other movements in the marketplace were to result in a significant lessening of the presence of independents, that has the potential to reduce competition in the market and as a result cause potential for higher prices for consumers." We will keep you up to date on developments as they come to hand.

In other fuel news, on Monday 29 September, the IGA supermarket chain announced a deal in reply to the discount schemes proposed by Coles Limited and Woolworths Limited. The discount offer will begin in Queensland, before being rolled out across the nation. The IGA discount offer varies from those proposed by Coles/ Shell and Woolworths/Caltex. The IGA offer allows customers to be reimbursed 4 cents per litre for up to 80 litres of fuel purchased at any service station when they are in possession of the receipt and spend more than $30 at an IGA store on a Friday.

It has been another busy month for FuelWatch. Until next month, continue to enjoy the savings!

Kind Regards,

 
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What's News
 


Damien Reid, our guest editor, with more fascinating news on the Fuel and Auto front.
No Starter Motor Saves Fuel
Picture a car without a starter motor, battery, alternator, belt system or even starter ring gear. Now imagine how much fuel you could save by not having to carry and power all that gear around under the bonnet.
[Read more]

VW Signs Biomass Fuel Agreement

German car giant Volkswagen has signed an historic agreement with that country's federal states of Brandenburg and Lower Saxony to develop biomass fuel produced by farm crops to power its future range of passenger cars.
[Read more]

New Car Reviews proudly supplied by News Limited.
Zoomy and Very Roomy, by Kevin Hepworth.
MAZDA'S greatly anticipated 323 replacement, the Mazda3, faces a huge task when it goes on sale in Australia in January.
[Read more]

Big cat prowls into the future, by Bruce McMahon.
JAGUAR'S RD-6, showcasing future Jaguar style and a new-found predilection for diesel engines, was a surprise hit at this month's Frankfurt show.
[Read more]

 
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Fuel Saving Tips
 

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Fuel Price Leaders
 

The average, lowest and the highest prices for last month in each city were:

City Average Lowest Highest
Adelaide 91.1 80.9 99.9
Brisbane 81.5 71.5 90.9
Melbourne 90.1 80.5 100.0
Perth 91.4 80.9 101.9
Sydney 89.6 79.9 100.9

The price leading service stations for each city last month were:

   
Brisbane
Service Station Caltex
Address MtGravatt-Capalaba Road
Suburb Rochedale
Average Price for month 76.5
   
   
Sydney
Service Station Caltex
Address corner Hume Highway & Orchard Road
Suburb Bass Hill
Average Price for month 84.5
   
   
Melbourne
Service Station Liberty
Address corner Sunshine Avenue & Malcolme Court
Suburb St Albans
Average Price for month 86.3
   
   
Adelaide
Service Station United
Address corner Prospect Road & Audrey Avenue
Suburb Blair Athol
Average Price for month 88.4
   
   
Perth
Service Station Ampol
Address corner Guildford Road & Third Avenue East
Suburb Maylands
Average Price for month 88.8
   
 
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Fuel Prices Around Australia
 

 
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