Upwey tradie Daniel Wurm recently bought a plug-in hybrid four-wheel-drive after becoming worried about the volatile price of fuel. His early predictions point towards annual savings of about $2,500 a year on petrol.

The decision comes as new Climate Council analysis reveals Australia paid an extra $9 billion in diesel import costs between March and August 2026 – the highest bill of any country – while higher fuel prices cost Australian drivers another $5 billion in that same period.

A co-founder of building education provider Green Building Institute, Wurm travels about 18,000 kilometres every year, including short local trips and towing his portable campus fashioned from an old horse trailer across Victoria and South Australia.

He estimates his new vehicle – a GWM Tank 300 hybrid – will save him about $2,500 in annual fuel costs.

“I would literally dread going to the petrol station," he said. “Driving into Melbourne's CBD would have cost me probably around about $50 in fuel normally, and this time it cost me nothing."

Electric vehicle sales have more than doubled compared to September 2025, while petrol vehicle sales have fallen by 36.2 percent.

According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ monthly sales report, nearly half of all new vehicles sold in September were hybrids, plug-in hybrids or electric vehicles.

A BYD Ringwood salesperson said interest in the manufacturer's Shark all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid ute was increasing among local tradespeople looking to reduce fuel expenses.

“They tend to switch from a diesel car to a hybrid ute because of the petrol price,” they told the Eastern Melburnian.

Wurm said switching to electric and hybrid vehicles could also help tradies and business owners manage rising operating costs rather than passing them on to customers.

“We need tens of thousands of new houses. Builders can't just keep raising the price because people aren't going to pay,” he said. “If you want to be independent, you can't ignore this technology.”

The Australian Institute of Petroleum reported average retail diesel prices of 280.1 cents per litre and petrol prices of 237.4 cents per litre in the week ending November 1.

Paul Andronicou, the director of independent petrol retailer Fast Fuel – with locations in Wantirna, Mount Evelyn, Wandin and Beaconsfield – said local tradies were bearing the brunt of higher diesel prices while his business was also experiencing reduced profitability and fuel volumes compared with before the conflict in the Middle East.

“We can only pass on the costs,” he told the Eastern Melburnian. “We’re suffering because what was once $90,000 for a tanker load is now about $128,000.”

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The future of Whitehorse’s greenery has become an unexpected fault line in the upcoming state election, with the Coalition, state government and local councils clashing over whether new laws do enough to protect established trees.

The debate has flared up over the past month after a Box Hill South homeowner heavily cut back a significant river red gum, despite a council arborist determining it was safe.

Whitehorse Council previously relied on overlay laws to protect significant trees and vegetation.

Introduced in February 2018, the overlay had its expiry date extended nine times before the state Planning Minister allowed it to lapse in mid-June, arguing the need for the council-wide provision had been superseded by new statewide planning controls.

Last September, the state government introduced statewide canopy tree controls aimed at protecting and increasing vegetation cover in residential areas.

The new rules mean landowners aren’t required to seek permits to remove, destroy or heavily cut back a tree in some circumstances, including for certain trees on properties already developed.

The Planning Minister’s office did not respond to requests for comment on why the government let the protection lapse or how other controls aim to protect significant tree canopy.

The Coalition has pledged to reinstate the old council regulations if elected, with Liberal candidate for Box Hill Sally Houguet saying retaining significant canopy trees was important for neighbourhood amenity.

“We know that tree canopy keeps local areas cooler in a warming area,” she said.

About a month ago, the owners of a property in Box Hill South contacted Whitehorse Council to request an arborist's assessment of whether a river red gum on their property was dangerous.

Whitehorse mayor Kirsten Langford said council’s arborist found it was a “healthy, structurally sound and significant canopy tree”. Despite this, the tree was cut down in early to mid-October.

“We are disappointed that a tree of this significance has been removed and believe its loss may have been avoided had the SLO9 controls been extended,” she told the Eastern Melburnian.

Speaking to the Eastern Melburnian, nearby resident Anusha said she believed the tree should have been protected due to its heritage and canopy value.

“It’s part of our community,” she said. “I think the enormity of the light that’s gone needs to be recognised.”

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Contributor Amelia Septiani took the trek down to the restaurant at 1383 Toorak Road in Camberwell to try one of their biryani meals, with each day featuring a new special.

Watch her video review below:

A number of experiences across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs can push you to the edge of your comfort zone.

So if you’re in the mood for some high-BPM moments, we’ve put together a list of some of the best options in the east.

Did we miss any? Email us at [email protected]