The local petrol industry will become more competitive with the construction of a Caltex/Woolworths petrol station on Gipps St.

Customers at Woolworths who receive a discount fuel voucher are set to benefit the most.

The new station means people don’t have to travel as far as Merimbula or Tura Beach to take advantage of the discounts.

Woolworths Bega store manager Matt Jorgensen said the construction would “give our store a boost”.

“It’s good for the store and the area,” he said.

“It will help the area raise money.”

The Bega Valley Shire Council approved a DA for the Woolworths station in October, 2012.

A Woolworths spokeswoman said plans were on track for a grand opening in September.

She said the project had already seen a canopy put up, as well as fuel and LPG tanks.

According to the spokeswoman, the final steps would include paving, landscaping and internal fit outs of the store.

“It’s all looking good,” she said.

The construction appears timely as petrol prices continue to soar around the Bega Valley.

On Monday, the price of E10 unleaded reached as high as $1.639 per litre at the Carp St station.

However, the BDN received mixed reactions when it quizzed some local residents on Friday.

Dignams Creek resident Tom Nichols said that Caltex had a “monopoly” with the construction of a fourth petrol station in Bega.

Meanwhile, Greg Bethell and Victoria Clemens claimed “we do need some genuine competition”.

Another man, who asked to remain anonymous, said the new station will “hopefully offer cheaper prices”.