The much-awaited return of the Goondi Bend service station site has been welcomed in Innisfail.
A Pizzolato family-run Puma Energy Australia service station had been teased for weeks at 117 Palmerston Drive but fuel is now once again flowing through the pumps.
The site, which was formerly a BP service station for 15 years, had not been open for several months. John Pizzolato said this was because BP’s lease of the site ended last year.
“We sold our business to BP back in 2004 and they took the lease of the site over for 15 years,” he said.
John and Maria Pizzolato are all smiles after opening a Puma Energy service station at Goondi Bend. Picture: Joshua Davies
“We tried to find another major oil company to take it over but nobody was interested so we decided to go back into it ourselves.
“Puma was the best option. We also wanted to be different because we are independent.
“We’re the only independent service station in Innisfail.”
The Pizzolatos received final approval to be 100 per cent operational inside the service station recently and now offer fresh hot food and a sit-down area.
A grand opening is expected to happen in the near future dependent on the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
“This is a new chapter,” Mr Pizzolato said.
Extracted from Adelaide Now