The Gull has landed.
Fuel retailer Gull officially opened its first South Island site at Maheno, south of Oamaru, yesterday, an unmanned station on State Highway 1.
Gull NZ general manager Dave Bodger said the opening was ''a long time coming'', after the original August opening date was first pushed back to September, then early October so re-concreting could be completed in the forecourt area and geotechnical work done for the installation of a new 50,0000-litre fuel tank.
''I've been with Gull a fair while and our most popular complaint is why aren't you in the South Island ... it's really good to be open.''
''It was an uncontracted, operating service station. We've made some updates and that's taken a few months, but it's much easier to get up and running that buying land, consenting and installing new tanks. It was a bonus we could accelerate the whole process.''
Mr Bodger expected other fuel retailers in North Otago, particularly those in Oamaru, to watch Gull's pricing with interest.
He said Oamaru's prices were in line with those ''on the North Shore in Auckland''.
''I think we can shake things up.''
The Maheno station offered discounted fuel at $1.91.7 for 91 and $1.29.7 for diesel yesterday, which matched its lowest prices in the country.
One of those taking advantage of the discounted rate was Graham Meikle, of Oamaru.
''It's brilliant,'' he said.
''It will fix up all of those others in Oamaru, I'm hoping. I'm going to the West Coast, so I had to fill up. It's a lot more expensive over there.''
Mr Bodger presented two sponsorship grants of $1000 to Maheno School and North Otago Sustainable Land Management at the opening.
Gull is scheduled to open a second site in Gore this month, and will draw fuel for its South Island sites from other terminals already in the area.
