Earlier this month, prices at the pump were still hovering at about $1.35 a litre, sparking a major backlash in country areas because those in the city were enjoying prices of just $1 a litre.

Last week, the costs at the bowser in Gunnedah improved at an average 122.9c, moving Gunnedah up the NRMA- monitored list in NSW and the ACT to 30th out of 54. Ranked from cheapest to most expensive, Gunnedah was at 40th on January 4 and as high as 46th on December 7.

Today, prices at the pump were between 120.9c-122.9c – a marked difference in just weeks, however metropolitan areas are still paying around only $1.

Newly appointed non-executive director on the NRMA Board NSW, Fiona Simson, said it’s taken a while for the lower costs - spurred by tumbling global oil prices - to filter through to regional areas, but believed there was still more room to move. 

“We believe towns like Gunnedah, there could still be another 10 cents to be dropped and we need to make sure local people are being forceful in supporting service stations that have cheaper prices and keep applying the pressure,” Mrs Simson said. 

She added that while fuel stations could charge what they want, it was very disappointing to see a number of towns had significant spikes during the Australian Day weekend to take advantage of holiday traffic. 

Forbes has been one of the towns that continually features on the NRMA’s cheapest list because it has a very  competitive independent service station that people supported. 

Ms Simson said prices were consistently lower at those stations in smaller towns. 

The fact remains however, that Sydney  people are still paying 20 cents less than country people. 

“We want the petrol and fuel stations to make a dollar but there needs to be some understanding that their pricing should be based on a formula that allows country people to benefit from falls in petrol prices as well,” Ms Simson said.