Cheap fuel has caused chaos on Adelaide streets with an almost 2 kilometre-long line of vehicles seeking relief at the pump.
Billionaire Adrian Portelli’s newly opened LMCT+ station at Edwardstown is slinging fuel for 99c a litre with the internet personality describing it “God’s work” despite the frustrations of nearby businesses.
Vehicles queued up along Daws Rd banked up from South Rd to Marion Rd as motorists clamoured to take advantage of the Saturday-only deal.
Traffic controllers set up cones around the entrance of the station and signs warning other motorists to slow down and avoid the queue in an attempt to control the chaos.
A Daws Rd shop worker, who did not want to be named, said similar scenes had made it difficult to access the side streets since the station opened earlier this month.
He said he had been yelled at trying to get to work but was happy more people were seeing his business’s signs.
“It’s pretty hectic,” he said.
“It’s awful because trucks are trying to get into the side streets and people won’t let them in, it causes chaos.
“I tried to pull into our car park and a lady rolled down her window and started abusing me saying get out of the way and that I was cutting in.”
Motorist, Daniel Latham, 48, said he heard about the 99 cent deal online.
“You don’t see this often, it’s been years since I’ve seen fuel lower than a dollar,” Mr Latham said.
“Obviously he (Adrian Portelli) is still making money, but he’s helping everyone else out.”
The station, which sells fuel at wholesale prices, is the first of its kind in South Australia and customers must pay an annual membership fee of $99 to gain access.
Portelli announced on Friday unleaded petrol would be slashed for Saturday.
“We are doing God’s work over in Adelaide, because all the neighbouring petrol stations in South Australia have dropped their prices and are trying to compete with LMCT+,” he said.
“So I thought, seeing as we’re all trying to give back to the community, let’s go one step further (on Saturday) – 91 unleaded, let’s do it for 99c.
“We want to give you guys some relief at the bowser over in South Australia. We did it in Melbourne, we’re going to do it in South Australia.”
Extracted in full from: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/billionaire-adrian-portelli-slashes-adelaide-petrol-prices-to-99-cents-on-saturday/news-story/153fb3c489a0ce6276f85cd2381ff79a
