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Coast drivers are being urged to fill up if they are lucky enough to spot cheap fuel as the region’s prices rise.
The new year brought brief relief to drivers who enjoyed low prices across the Coast.
But RACQ said the respite was over for the region as it entered the expensive phase of the price cycle.
RACQ spokesman Vivien O Connor said drivers were spending anywhere from 109.7c to 151.9c over the Christmas holidays but the region was now in the cheap phase of the price cycle. Motorists on the Sunshine Coast should fill up the tank now and aim for 116 cents per litre for unleaded, she said. About 35 per cent of sites are selling unleaded for 116 cents per litre or less and 10.9 per cent of sites are selling unleaded for 110c cents per litre or less. Most sites in Caloundra and Noosa are selling for 117c or 118c, while others are charging as much as 123c.
WEATHER REPORT AND TIDES The Coast has a chance to enjoy some sunshine on Monday after a rather wet weekend. The weather bureau predicts Maroochydore to be partly cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of a shower. Winds are southerly, 15 to 20km/h, turning south-easterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light in the evening. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 28C in Maroochydore and Caloundra, 25C in Maleny and 28C in Nambour and Noosa Heads.
TRAFFIC Road works are continuing on Mons Rd, Forest Glen and a damaged bridge or culvert has been reported on David Low Way Bridge in Bli Bli - expect some delays there.
âThe Sunshine Coast ⦠is lagging behind Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Ipswich,â she said.
âThis is not unusual; the Coast does tend to lag a couple of days behind the other markets, but we are seeing initial movements towards the discounting phase on the Sunshine Coast.â
Ms Ritchie said motorist should be able to welcome in the New Year with cheaper prices.
âWe do expect the coast will transition into that discounting phase in the coming days,â she said.
âIt would be good news for early 2021 that we would start to see prices coming down.â
Ten per cent of Coast sites are still selling unleaded for 145 or more whereas five per cent are selling for 114 or less.
RACQ spokeswoman Lauren Ritchie said drivers would have to wait for any relief. Petrol prices on the Sunshine Coast are at the most expensive phase of price cycle, so we should start to see prices lower about a cent or two a litre per day as we start to head into the discount phase, she said. But at the moment the Sunshine Coast is not in that phase and does seem to be lagging a little bit behind the other SEQ markets who are transitioning into that next phase. She said seven per cent of sites were selling unleaded for 114 or less across the region.