By BEN CAMERON
BUNYIP residents have vowed to boycott Caltex service stations in the area after the company closed down an iconic roadhouse on the Princes Highway.
On Friday about 40 people protested outside the service station, which closed its doors on 1 December.
Protest organiser Yvette Bidley said an online petition had already gathered over 700 signatures to re-open the facility and a Save Bunyip Roadhouse Facebook page had over 300 supporters.
“They (Caltex) just want Longwarry to get all the customers, but in fact all the supporters say they will ban Caltex and go to Nar Nar Goon,” she said.
“I hope Caltex gets the message that we don’t want to drive five kilometres away for fuel and plastic food, we want fuel and real food at Bunyip.”
Former licensee and protestor Gess Bertoni said it was a sad day for the area.
“You can’t argue with Caltex, they’re mongrels,” he said. “You can’t win. Money talks I guess.”
Bunyip resident of the past 17 years Mark Watling said he would be forced to go elsewhere for supplies.
“I just live down the road, I used to come here for my papers and an egg and bacon roll,” he said.
“I really feel sorry for the staff.
“The uni students, the girls who have worked there for years, where are they going to get a job?”
The Pakenham Gazette noticed a car pull into the station for petrol as the residents protested.
Mrs Bidey said it was a common sight.
“People are still coming here for petrol,” she said.
“I spoke to a guy who came here last week – he was on his way to Melbourne, he was disgusted.”
A Caltex spokesperson said the company had “invested heavily in the area, particularly its two sites at Longwarry-Caltex Longwarry Westbound and Caltex Longwarry Eastbound”.
“Both of these sites are modern facilities that deliver a broad range of fuel and convenience products and can operate viably because they have a high number of customers,” he said.
“Unfortunately, unlike the two Longwarry sites five minutes’ drive away, the Bunyip Caltex is an old facility that requires substantial ongoing maintenance just to stay in business.
“There are many costs associated with operating a service station, particularly a site as old as the Bunyip Caltex.
“We owe it to all those associated with the site to be upfront about its long-term prospects and the challenges it faces.
“Caltex regularly reviews its network to ensure that it best meets the needs of as many of its customers as possible.
“As part of this, we often build new sites in areas where we identify there is a need.
“We also upgrade older sites if we can see that, over time, we will make a return on this investment.”
