Humphries speaks with airline about western air services
Wednesday March 17, 2010
Aeropelican Director Ian Vanderbeek met with Nationals Member for the Legislative Council Rick Colless, Member for Barwon and Shadow Minister for Western NSW Kevin Humphries and Member for Murray-Darling John Williams recently to discuss western area air services. ▪ Photo contributed
The fight to secure air services to Cobar is continuing, with Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries meeting airline representatives and CBH Resources managing director Stephen Dennis weighing in on the situation.
Mr Humphries, along with other National Party representatives, last week met with airline Aeropelican director Ian Vanderbeek for a briefing on air services in the western region.
Aeropelican incorporated a Narrabri air service into its flight list last year following the withdrawal of Qantaslink services to the town.
Cobar has been left in a similar situation following Airlink’s withdrawal in December 2008, however a replacement service has not been secured to date.
Mr Humphries said he will continue to lobby for a new Cobar air service.
“As Shadow Minister for Western NSW, I will be introducing a draft regional airlines policy into Shadow Cabinet, recognising the need to service regional and rural NSW by air.
“Current costs incurred by personnel of NSW government departments and private industry travelling into areas such as Cobar, Bourke and Walgett exceed previous airline travel costs.
“Not servicing these areas by air doesn’t make any sense given their commercial
viability.
“It is not an issue about subsidies but rather about equitable access to air services through better coordination.
“Public transport in Sydney is subsidised to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars so we want our fair share for regional NSW, and I will make sure we get it,” Mr Humphries said.
CBH Resources managing director Stephen Dennis has offered his support to any efforts to secure an air service for Cobar.
Speaking at a regional media conference last Thursday, Mr Dennis said it was “incredible” that professionals should have to drive to Cobar for work.
“The idea that a workforce has to drive to Cobar is wrong.
“The government certainly has a role to play here.
“That’s not to say it should be a government service but they do have a responsibility to ensure a satisfactory service for Cobar,” Mr Dennis said.
He said CBH would be willing to be involved in talks with airlines about bringing a new service to Cobar.
“I’d hope that collectively, we would be able to arrange something,” he said.
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