An update from the ground on how rising fuel costs, now combined with supply uncertainty, are affecting daily life in the bush.
Fuel underpins people’s livelihood and sense of connection in the bush. Alongside rising prices, questions about availability are now making it difficult to plan ahead.
Fuel shortages in rural Australia add new pressure
Across regional NSW, diesel prices remain well above metropolitan averages. In towns such as Nyngan, prices have recently ranged from 279.9 to 309.9 cents per litre, with nearby centres like Cobar and Condobolin reporting similar figures. For many residents, these towns are 100 to 150 kilometres away, turning what might be a routine task elsewhere into a significant investment of time and money.
In other regions, prices are climbing even higher. Diesel has recently been reported at around 285.9 cents per litre in Harden, where supply has been limited following a delayed tanker delivery. In Tenterfield, one service station has closed its fuel pumps due to a lack of fuel, while the remaining outlets have been holding at 299.9 cents per litre. In more remote locations such as Hermidale, fuel has reached 323.9 cents per litre, with the nearest supply around 75 kilometres away.
While these costs alone are deeply challenging, many people are now describing the uncertainty of whether fuel will be available when they arrive.
In Buchan, in regional Victoria, diesel recently ran out altogether, requiring residents to travel on to neighbouring towns such as Bruthen, Orbost or Nowa Nowa to refuel. Even in larger regional centres, supplies have at times been inconsistent, creating anxiety and making forward planning difficult.
The impact reaches beyond the bowser
These pressures extend well beyond the bowser. Fuel availability affects nearly every part of rural and remote life, from farming and freight to healthcare, education and community connection. When fuel becomes more expensive and less reliable, the impacts are felt across entire communities, particularly where options are already limited. For many communities, fuel shortages in rural Australia are becoming an everyday reality rather than an exception.
For Frontier Services, staying aware of these changing conditions is part of how we work alongside rural and remote communities. Listening to what people are experiencing helps inform how support is planned and delivered, especially as pressures shift and compound over time.
Our role has always been shaped by long-term relationships and a deep understanding of life in the bush. We know that fuel pressures, whether related to cost, distance or availability, are not abstract issues. They are practical challenges that affect everyday decisions and wellbeing.
As conditions continue to change, we remain focused on walking alongside communities and responding thoughtfully to what is happening on the ground, just as we have for more than 110 years.
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