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New air service will mean a lot to Cobar
Wednesday July 14, 2010
Mayor Lilliane Brady says Cobar “deserves” an air service after suffering since the withdrawal of Airlink’s passenger service in 2008.
Cr Brady said the new agreement with Brindabella airlines to provide direct flights from Cobar to Sydney is a major boost for the town in many ways.
“It will be good for tourism and the local motels, because those people who fly up to Cobar, even if its for the mines or whatever, will have to stay overnight in town,” Cr Brady said.
She said medical services would be improved for Cobar with the introduction of flights.
“Royal Far West have said they will bring a few extra children’s health services to town if they can fly up,” she said.
She said in addition, people from nearby towns such as Bourke will use the service.
Cobar’s three local mines, which are combining with council to underwrite the service during the trial period, say it will be a major boost to their business.
“This will be a better, more improved air service than what we had before,” Peak Gold Mines general manager Peter Lloyd said.
“It will be easier to get consultants and
contractors out here but also easier for us to send worker’s compensation cases down to Sydney for treatment and rehabilitation,” he said.
“It will help us to attract, recruit and retain good staff,” Cobar Management Pty Ltd’s financial controller Michael Cox said.
Endeavor Mine general manager Tony Davis said it will improve the lifestyle and safety of a number of the mine’s employees who live outside Cobar.
“We no longer have the concern of our employees driving long distances after a long shift at work,” Mr Davis said.
All stakeholders said the biggest winner in the agreement was the town of Cobar.
“It will make Cobar a more liveable place,” Mr Lloyd said.
“It will increase services and make us less isolated,” he said.
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