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West Ryde has emerged as one of Sydney’s worst-performing areas in a statewide FuelCheck inspection blitz, with about one-third of service stations fined for mismatches between pump prices and the government app.
The findings form part of a broader compliance sweep that has also identified strong performance in several Sydney suburbs, where no breaches were recorded.
In Liverpool and surrounding suburbs, including Chipping Norton, Moorebank, Prestons, Casula, Lurnea and Mount Pritchard, all 35 service stations were compliant, with no fines issued. All 15 stations across Greystanes, Girraween, Pendle Hill and Wentworthville were also compliant, as were the 15 stations in the Windsor area.
Natasha Mann, NSW Fair Trading Commissioner, said inspectors were targeting non-compliance across the state.
“Our inspectors have been working around the clock and in every corner of the state checking for compliance in petrol stations to ensure motorists are getting the right price at the pump,” she said.
“FuelCheck gives motorists confidence that the prices they see in the app are the prices they’ll pay at the pump.”
Alongside West Ryde, the 2142 postcode — covering Granville, Rosehill, Camellia, Clyde and Holroyd — also recorded breaches, with two of 12 stations fined.
NSW Fair Trading said stations displaying “red flag” behaviour, including fines or repeated complaints, would continue to face re-inspections.
Across the state, inspectors have conducted more than 4,100 field inspections and re-inspections, with about half in the Sydney metropolitan area. More than 245 fines have been issued, around 80 per cent of them for price mismatches.
A public reporting program known as Bowser Busters has also contributed to enforcement, with almost 100 fines issued based on consumer reports.
Anoulack Chanthivong, Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, said the enforcement effort was aimed at ensuring price transparency during cost-of-living pressures.
“These numbers show that as cost-of-living pressures ramp up, the Minns Labor Government will not back down.
“We are delivering on our promise to ensure transparent fuel prices for the people of NSW.”
Chanthivong said the reporting system was helping improve compliance.
“And it’s working – re-inspections are deterring most service stations from taking motorists for a ride. We want motorists to be alert to price mismatching at their local servo and report their concerns directly to FuelCheck.”
New legislation introduced to NSW Parliament this week would make it an offence for service stations to fail to notify FuelCheck of standard fuel prices or fuel unavailability at the bowser.
Under the proposed changes, incorporated petrol stations could face fines of up to $110,000, while penalties for unincorporated operators would rise from $22,000 to $55,000. On-the-spot fines would also be increased, up to $3,300 for a first offence and $11,000 for a second offence within 12 months.
NSW Fair Trading said inspections would continue across the state in the coming weeks, with motorists encouraged to report suspected price mismatches.
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