When the Woolworths Petrol station was announced as coming to Salamander Bay I was excited at the prospect of competition driving prices down. 

The station opened in September and has been a disappointment price wise. Sadly there is no price competition. The two Coles Shell petrol stations (Nelson Bay and Salamander) and the Woolworths Caltex station (Salamander) consistently maintain some of the highest prices of any service stations in a 100km radius.

The NSW government has a website (and app) that instantly compares fuel prices at every service station in NSW  www.fuelcheck.nsw.gov.au

In my experience, the Caltex at Bobs Farm, combined with the 5c per litre discount for NRMA members (which that service station accepts) makes that petrol station the most competitively priced station within 30 minutes drive of Nelson Bay town centre.

 I agree with Richard that a total boycott of the price gouging stations is the only way we can hope for change.

Related reading: Letters to the Editor, January 17

You would assume that continuity and appearance would be major consideration when repairs and upgrades are carried out by council around Nelson Bay.  Especially so with the Bay being a tourist mecca. 

The road entering the Bay was resurfaced recently with smooth bitumen as was Church Street, the foreshore and the Gowrie Avenue roundabout.

However the section of road road from Nelson Bay Diggers to the Gowrie Avenue roundabout was surfaced almost entirely with bluemetal (a large percentage of which now resides on the grass footpaths to the detriment of mowers and lawn maintenance implements - $300 in my case).

 Meanwhile a recent repair to a small section of footpath in the middle of a long stretch of pebbled concrete in Gowrie Avenue was done with just ordinary concrete. 

And only a block from the picturesque waterfront at Shoal Bay, the street leading to the Shoal Bay school is kerb and guttered with a smooth bitumen surface at one end while at the Shoal Bay end there is no kerb and guttering and the road surface almost requires a Nepalese Sherpa to negotiate.

Surely ratepayers and tourists alike expect better and for some common sense and forethought and not just dollars to prevail in these situations.

Related reading: Letters to the Editor, January 10

With regards to the variability of fuel prices, may I suggest that Richard Casey download the NSW Government's Fuel Check App.

During our recent holidays, we saved at least 5 cents per litre of diesel by using this app. We found that filling up at Echuca (and not Deniliquin), Tomingley (and not Dubbo), and Williamtown (and not Nelson Bay) made our wallets happier. 

Related reading: Letters to the Editor, January 3

As a part time resident and past owner of property in Nelson Bay, I was very disappointed at what I encountered on my recent visit to the town centre.

My stroll through the town at 3.30pm  revealed: Cascade Walk had more ‘for lease’ signs than [occupied] businesses and signs in some cafes stated that the last coffee order would be taken at 4.30pm.

Most cafes/restaurants were closed, as were some shops. The town was not the vibrant place, for that time of the year, that I remembered back in 2000.

 This is the season when shop keepers and cafe owners need to capitalise on the holiday trade. The chamber of commerce has previously lamented on how the town can attract trade to a most desirable holiday destination, maybe they should have a word with the business proprietors?

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