Prepay petrol push

By Sarah Schwager
A PREPAY system could be the next step for Dandenong petrol stations as they bid to curb nighttime ‘driveoffs’.
Petrol stations in the region have declared their interest in switching to a prepay system, but fear they will lose business in the sale of shop items such as food and drinks.
State projects manager for the Prepay for Petrol Strategy, Senior Constable Dale Johnston, said driveoffs were costing the petrol station industry $12 million in Victoria and $64 million in Australia per year.
The BP service station on the corner of Princes Highway and Potter Street, Dandenong, recently started a prepay system, which operates from 6pm to midnight.
Jasbe Petroleum human resources manager Moana McDowell said the system was put in place at the site to reduce the number of driveoffs. She said it was proving successful.
Jasbe Petroleum oversees BP Dandenong.
A meeting in Narre Warren on Monday night between police and service station operators highlighted the concerns of operators with implementing a prepay system.
Narre Warren police have recently launched a trial in which service station operators can fax through the details of petrol driveoffs as soon as they occur.
Endeavour Hills United petrol station owner Sam Khader said the meeting had been “helpful”.
“(Driveoffs) are really affecting us,” Mr Khader said.
According to Sen Constable Johnston, prepay systems already operate in 250 petrol stations across Australia.
Oasis Plus Springvale manager Ricky Gupta said a prepay system in the evening could be worthwhile.
“After 7pm it’s not as busy. That way you can go out and explain prepay to people. During the day it’s too busy to do that,” Mr Gupta said.
“Also a lot of people tend to drive off at that time (the evening).”
But Mr Gupta said a concern, particularly for smaller sites, was that a lot of customers were not used to prepay and might not adjust well to the system.
He said it might affect their business in terms of selling food and drinks.
He said most petrol stations relied on such income and that he hoped if the system was introduced, people would adjust.
“The first six months will be like that. I think after that people will get used to it,” he said.
Ms McDowell said in terms of implementing the system at other BP service stations, they would have to wait to see how the issue developed.
“While the industry may want it, the public may not. This makes things difficult,” she said.