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From that man 'Iggins, via the Oz:

AUGUST  27, 2019.

Subsidies put remote towns on flight path

By EAN HIGGINS



Some of the most remote and drought-ravaged towns in northwestern NSW will soon have regular air services restored for the first time in more than a decade.

Among other benefits, the move will get better access to medical services for those in remote communities, where health workers say depression is a rising problem as a collapse in agricultural production hits local economies.

Local councils are hoping the restoration of air services to Sydney will also encourage a boost in tourism in some iconic outback towns.

Minister for Western NSW Adam Marshall on Tuesday announced a deal in which the state government will subsidise thecost of air tickets to make it profitable for FlyPelican and Airlink to operate 26 new services each week, linking Bourke, Cobar, Walgett and Lightning Ridge to Dubbo, and Cobar to Sydney.

The NSW Government provided $8 million to ensure routes remain sustainable, Mr Marshall said, and they will start next month.

“It’s been 12 long years since passenger flights last touched down in Walgett and Bourke, which is far too long,” Mr Marshall said.

“Better access to air services means improved opportunities for people to travel to other parts of the state to be with loved ones and access jobs, education and healthcare.”

Dr Sanjay Jamwal, one of two general practitioners at the Cobar Primary Health Centre, said the resumption of flights wouldmake a significant difference to his patients, who could travel to Sydney or Dubbo for specialist treatment by air, or betreated in Cobar by visiting specialists who could fly in for the day.

Dr Jamwal said he had observed an increase in emotional and mental stress in his patients as the drought intensified.

“With any economic downturn or depression, it brings a push towards mental disorder,” Dr Jamwal told The Australian.

“At least you can do something to take off a bit of pressure from travelling for medical services,” he said.

The initiative will restore direct flights from Sydney to Cobar, and also from Dubbo to Cobar, and links from Dubbo to the other towns.

At present, to get to Sydney from Cobar requires a four-hour drive to Dubbo to get on a one hour flight.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro spoke of tourism potential.

“If you are sitting in Sydney making plans for the weekend, there is nothing stopping you from getting on a plane and exploring Outback NSW,” Mr Barilaro said.

“These air services will carry over 14,000 seats a year to the Far West meaning tourists can roam the opal fields in Lightening Ridge, have lunch at the Port of Bourke Hotel on the Darling River or visit the historic mining town of Cobar, in a matterof hours.”

FlyPelican will operate from its fleet of Jetstream 32 aircraft, seating up to 19 passengers and two pilots for round tripsbetween Cobar and Dubbo, and Cobar and Sydney.

Air Link services will fly seven-passenger seat Chieftain aircraft on round trips between Dubbo and Bourke, Dubbo and Walgett, and Walgett and Lightning Ridge.

MTF...P2