A new petrol station in Melbourne's northeast will sell fuel for just a dollar a litre on Thursday, but only for members of billionaire Adrian Portelli's rewards scheme. The stunt in Preston is the brainchild of the LMCT+ owner, who says he is happy to not make money on fuel to give his members the best value.
Wholesale Fuel for Members
"Prices are ridiculous at the moment, as we all know, but for my members, they'll be receiving wholesale fuel," Portelli said. He is slashing the cost of unleaded petrol to just $1 a litre. The online rewards club founder plans to roll out 50 service stations nationwide, with the Preston site being the first.
Expected Queues and Traffic
The opening special for Thursday only is likely to prompt scenes similar to those in Truganina on Good Friday, where police shut down a free fuel giveaway. Hundreds of bargain-hungry motorists are expected to queue along Plenty Road from 7am, with traffic controllers and police already notified. "I feel like that's Australians in crisis. Be it toilet paper, be it fuel. The chance of saving an extra $10, people will go crazy," one person said. Portelli admitted, "I'm actually scared of the traffic it's going to generate."
When asked if they would line up for $1 fuel, one person responded: "Yeah." The service station in Preston is expected to attract large crowds, reminiscent of the chaotic scenes from earlier this year.
