Humphries calls on government to support air service
Wednesday November 25, 2009
Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries has revealed an airline has expressed interest in taking over the Cobar to Dubbo air route.
In a number of recent media reports he said Canberra-based airline Brindabella is considering the economics of the route along with other towns.
Cobar has been without an air service for almost one year after Airlink ceased its service last December.
The State Ministry of Transport called for expressions of interest earlier this year for a new air service operator, but was unable to secure a provider.
A second call was put out later in the year again, however Cobar Shire Council are unaware of any expressions lodged.
“The normal process has been that the state government notifies council if there was an expression of interest so we can comment on it, but that hasn’t happened at this stage,” council’s general manager Ray Smith said.
“We do know that Grow Dubbo were negotiating with an airline on behalf of the towns that lost their air service, such as Cobar, Bourke, Walgett and Lightning Ridge, but we don’t know where that is up to,” Mr Smith said.
Mr Humphries last week spoke with a
number of media outlets, calling on the state government to subsidise the air routes for western towns, saying many are considered unviable.
He said the visiting professionals from places such as Sydney, including medical specialists, were feeling the strain from having to drive from Dubbo to Cobar and the lack of air services may impact on these services in the near future.
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