Pain and gain at Moreton Bay's bowsers

Moreton Bay’s cheapest and most expensive suburbs for petrol have been revealed in the RACQ’s Annual Fuel Price Report.

The 2024 report shows our most expensive suburb was the second worst in Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich and Sunshine Coast. 

Motorists filling-up at Burpengary paid the highest average price for regular unleaded petrol (RULP) in Moreton Bay region at 209.2 cents per litres (cpl).

RACQ’s top five for our region has Woody Point second with an average of 207.8cpl, then Burpengary East 207.5, Bellmere 206.3 and Griffin 204.7.

Elimbah had the cheapest average RULP last year with 188.0cpl, followed by Lawnton 188.3, Deception Bay 190.1, Rothwell 190.1 and Strathpine 192.1.

Comparing those with  Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, and Sunshine Coast Local Government Areas (LAGs) shows Moreton Bay motorists are being hit hard.

Burpengary (209.2) was just behind the most expensive suburb North Ipswich where drivers paid an average of 209.5cpl for RULP in 2024.

Haigslea, also in Ipswich LGA, was third on 208.5cpl. Woody Point (207.8cpl) and Burpengary East (207.5cpl) beat Brisbane’s top suburb of Milton 205.7cpl.

Moreton Bay’s cheapest suburb Elimbah (average 188.0cpl) was still higher than the top five suburbs in each of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, and Sunshine Coast.

The RACQ report also found on average Brisbane motorists paid 194.5cpl for regular unleaded last year, exceeding the 2023 record by 1.4cpl.

Brisbane was once again the nation’s most expensive capital city to fill up, with motorists in Perth paying 13cpl less on average for unleaded.

RACQ Economist and Affordability Specialist Dr Ian Jeffreys said prices were unrelentingly and without regulation, this trend will only continue.

He also predicts fuel prices should ease slightly this year.

“The increased average price reflected an increase in retail margins and provided further evidence of a failing market and the need for regulation,” Dr Jeffreys said.

“Last year average indicative retail margins for regular unleaded in Brisbane were 21.4cpl, 4cpl higher than 2023 and more than 7cpl higher than 2022.

“We’re calling on the new government to re-consider RACQ’s proposal to impose a five-cent daily cap on fuel price increases across the state to bring an end to dramatic and unjustified price hikes.”

Dr Jeffreys said the report also proved how important it is to shop around using price comparison apps like RACQ’s Fuel app.

2024 Average prices for ULP in cents per litre:

Brisbane LGA: Top 5 cheapest suburbs - Kuraby 176.0, Deagon 178.5, Zillmere 183.7, Bracken Ridge 184, Moorooka 184.1.

Top 5 most expensive suburbs – Milton 205.7, Mt Ommaney 204.7, Jindalee 204.2, Salisbury 203.3, Toowong 203.1.

Gold Coast LGA: Top 5 cheapest suburbs – Molendinar 173.6, Jacobs Well 179.5, Arundel 180.5, Ashmore 181.3, Australia Fair 182.3.

Top 5 most expensive suburbs – Coombabah 203.3, Runaway Bay 203.0, Tugan 201.5, Stapylton 200.8, Alberton 199.9.

Ipswich LGA: Top 5 cheapest suburbs – Walloon 180.4, Eastern Heights 183.7, Amberley 187.2, Willowbank 187.5, Churchill 187.8.

Top 5 most expensive suburbs – North Ipswich 209.5, Haigslea 208.5, Brassall 203.5, Ipswich 202.5, Blacksoil 202.5.

Sunshine Coast LGA: Top 5 cheapest suburbs – Palmview 177.00, Maleny 180.4, Mooloolah 182.3, Tanawha 182.7, Chevallum 184.0.

Top 5 most expensive suburbs – Coochin Creek 204.9, Noosa Heads 197.7, Kenilworth 197.2, Noosaville 196.9, Tewantin 196.6.