Orroroo's only fuel station runs dry in another blow for mid north town

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Orroroo in South Australia's mid north, three hours from Adelaide, has been without fuel for more than a week. The EPA warns of a possible leak at the town's only fuel station and the tank will remain empty while investigated. The EPA is waiting on an assessment from an environmental consultant.

Transcript

00:00It's been more than a week since Oruru has been without fuel.

00:06The town's only supply cut off due to a possible leak in a storage tank.

00:10We're 30km roughly from another fuel station and so to have fuel in our town it's pretty critical.

00:19And the loss couldn't have come at a worse time as the region grapples with devastating drought

00:24and is still cleaning up after huge dust storms, the local economy already under pressure.

00:30Literally just another thing that's happening. We've had an absolute terrible probably last couple of weeks.

00:37The town is a popular pit stop for tourists heading to the Flinders Ranges.

00:41It's peak season and business owners fear visitors won't come if they can't fill up.

00:46They might just sort of keep going through instead of stopping.

00:50The owner of the service station has declined to comment.

00:53But the Environment Protection Authority has confirmed it's investigating a leak.

00:57In a statement it says it was notified of a possible leak from a fuel storage tank at an Oruru petrol station

01:04and it's liaising with the licensee.

01:06It says the tank will remain empty until a consultant can assess the situation.

01:11But it hasn't been able to say how long the process will take, leaving locals wondering.

01:16It's only happened last week so who knows, it might be up and going really soon, we're not sure.

01:21For now residents are forced to travel to the nearest town to fill up.

01:25A cause for concern for those who might need fuel in a pinch.

01:28It's not a nice feeling knowing that fuel may not be possible for the people that need it.

01:33Another challenge for a town already facing so many.

01:37a place for a town that we do not enjoy the business.

01:39Which we take a lot of time?!

01:40It's the peak of a niche to find a place.

01:41We have everybody on the site and can't go and see how the world comes up.

01:44Still waiting, we're still waiting for the shop.

01:45It'll be a good morning to see how many natural departments we can Prinze does not go.

01:47Now we'll have to see how many natural departments we can consider.

01:50We want to take a lot of time.

01:51We're still waiting, we'll have to see how many natural departments we move around.

01:53The next area is still waiting for the people to return to find the place.

01:58We're still waiting for the station.

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