Cobar grounded without government aid
Wednesday March 3, 2010
Cobar Airport looks set to remain empty and virtually unused after the State Government failed to assist Brindabella Airlines to set up a new air service to the town. ? The Cobar Weekly photographer was escorted onto the tarmac by a council staff member to take this photo
Cobar may have missed out on securing a new air service after the State Government failed to provide any assistance.
Brindabella Airlines had put forward an expression of interest in servicing the route, but had called on the State Government to guarantee the usage of seats by Government employees.
However Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries said the plea for help seems “to have fallen on deaf ears”.
“Proposals have been based on the State Government taking a lead in co-ordinating departmental bookings and guaranteeing usage of seats,” Mr Humphries said.
He said at no time did he or the airline request a government subsidy for Dubbo to Cobar, Bourke or Walgett air routes.
Lobbying from Mr Humphries and western areas residents led the Ministry of Transport to undertake a due diligence report.
The report revealed that it is cheaper for the government to underwrite an air service than car and accommodation costs; that service provisions were suffering due to the reduction in face-to-face contact, particularly in regards to health and medical outcomes; and that workforce safety is a concern due to long hours of car travel for professionals visiting towns such as Cobar.
Mr Humphries said Freedom of Information documents he obtained from the Ministry of Transport revealed State Government agencies averaged 2,500 return trips from Dubbo to Cobar, Walgett and Bourke in a year.
“This, combined with around 1,000 return seats from the Cobar mines per year and you have a very profitable flight run,” Mr Humphries said.
He has called on the Ministry for Transport to urgently progress a tender for the service.
Cobar Shire Council has set up Cobar Airport strategic committee to examine the future of the airport, in an attempt to make it more attractive to air service providers.
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