COLAC motorists are paying almost 20 cents a litre more for fuel than motorists in Geelong and Melbourne.

Colac district’s Patrick Chevers said he noticed the price for LPG at Geelong this week was 63.9 cents a litre, while it was 81.9 cents in Colac.

“I think Colac just gets treated as a backwater where they don’t have to worry about competition,” Mr Chevers said.

“I think they should have a nominated price difference between here and there,” he said.

“Instead of 20 cents, just a nominated difference for transport costs.”

Mr Chevers, who lives at Johanna near Cape Otway, said he couldn’t reduce his fuel bill by “driving less”.

“You just can’t not drive,” he said.

Mr Chevers said he’d like to see Colac Otway Shire Council intervention when there was a price disparity.

“I think there’s a role for local government to play when the price difference is so much,” he said.

“Not saying they need to run an inquiry, but perhaps a phone call to say ‘why is it a 20-cent difference?’

“Again it’s keeping the petrol companies accountable.”

Meanwhile, Colac petrol prices are also about 20 cents per litre above the lowest price in Melbourne.

Colac’s drivers are paying 152.9 cents a litre, while Melbourne drivers are paying 134.4 cents a litre on average.

The price was as low as 130.9 at a petrol station in Melbourne’s south-east yesterday afternoon.

The RACV’s petrol spokesman Michael Case said “something really quite unusual” was happening in Melbourne and Geelong.

“What we’re seeing at the moment is an extended period at the bottom end of the cycle,” Mr Case said.

“It can be 20 cents cheaper in Melbourne than places like Colac,” he said.

“There’s always some difference due to transport costs, but that only makes a couple of cents a litre difference.

“People are noticing it and asking questions, no one seems to know why.”

Mr Case said he expected the price in Melbourne to jump to the “high 1.40s” but couldn’t predict when.

“If you’re on the road, keep an eye on fuel prices,” he said.

“Look for cheaper fuel, fill up whenever and wherever.”