Fuel delivery delays in western NSW deepen drought pressure on livestock farms
Farmers in western New South Wales report diesel delays on top of drought stress, constraining feed and water logistics for livestock.
Farmers across western New South Wales say diesel delivery delays are compounding an already severe drought burden. ABC reports that producers are facing what they describe as a “triple whammy”: depleted water, failed pasture, and constrained fuel access at the same time.
One producer said he ordered 40,000 litres of diesel before the Middle East conflict escalated, but delivery remained delayed. With dams dry and paddocks depleted, large weekly fuel volumes are essential to keep core operations running, especially transport of feed and water.
The logistics burden is explicit in the report: around a 20 km round trip is needed to collect water for roughly 3,000 sheep and 600 cattle. If diesel is delayed, basic livestock support becomes a bottleneck even when feed and water are commercially available.
Cropping operations are also exposed. A farmer in Trundle said it took two weeks and many calls to secure fuel before the key winter sowing period. Missing that sowing window can directly reduce harvest outcomes later in the year, turning fuel timing into an agronomic risk, not only a cost issue.
Regional fuel suppliers said demand surged sharply in early March, with order volumes in a few days comparable to a normal month. Delivery backlogs grew, while diesel prices in the state were reported near the AUD 3 per litre level, with a quoted pump board around 289.9 cents per litre.
Regulatory scrutiny has followed. The ACCC is investigating reports about diesel availability and possible anti-competitive conduct affecting regional and rural supply chains. At state level, regional representatives are pressing for equitable support, arguing that reliable fuel access is essential infrastructure for livestock welfare, sowing operations, and rural economic stability.