Councils across New South Wales are calling for fuel supply to be prioritised for local government, warning that disruptions could impact critical community services.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President, Mayor Darcy Byrne, has written to the New South Wales Government seeking guarantees that councils will have access to fuel, particularly in the event of emergency supply declarations.
Byrne said fuel shortages could directly affect essential services delivered by councils.
“Basic services that could be impacted include garbage collection, water and sewerage services, aged care, community transport and roadworks,” he said.
“A bad situation will be made much worse if these services are disrupted in vulnerable communities because councils begin to run out of fuel.”
The call comes amid growing concerns about supply constraints and rising costs, with regional and remote councils expected to face the greatest challenges.
Byrne said the impacts are already being felt in some areas, particularly where independent fuel retailers dominate the market.
“In many rural and regional communities, independent service stations are the only fuel providers. When they come under pressure, it has a direct impact on councils’ ability to keep essential services running,” he said.
LGNSW has raised the issue directly with government, with Mayor Byrne representing the sector at a recent New South Wales Fuel Security Roundtable alongside ministers, industry representatives and key stakeholders.
The organisation is continuing to advocate for measures to ensure councils can maintain service delivery and support communities in the face of ongoing fuel supply uncertainty.
