Government surety in the form of $2 million worth of funding will ensure that Cobar’s commercial air service, along with air services for Bourke, Walgett and Lightning Ridge, will continue to operate for another year.
Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty announced on Friday the Minns Labor Government would be extending its support for another 12 months to subsidise commercial flights to Western NSW as part of its plan to better connect people and businesses across regional NSW.
Minister Moriarty said extending the subsidy to November 2026 will keep these flights moving for remote communities that rely on them for transporting essential workers, services and trades.
Under the subsidy agreement, Fly Pelican will continue to operate six return flights each week between Sydney and Cobar, and Air Link will continue its eight return routes connecting Bourke, Walgett, and Lightning Ridge to Dubbo each week.
“This funding from the Minns Government’s Regional Development Trust is designed to support flights for the communities in Bourke, Cobar, Lightning Ridge and Walgett so that they can access regular and reliable services.
“Regional communities rely on air travel for its convenience and speed, to ensure they can get to health care or business appointments or bringing in visitors and workers.
“The NSW Government is building better services for our regional communities in smart and appropriate ways,” Minister Moriarty said.
The Far North West Joint Organisation (FNWJO) which represents the Cobar, Bourke and Walgett shire councils, initially secured NSW Government grant funding in 2019 to support the return of regular passenger air services to Cobar, Bourke, Walgett and Lightning Ridge.
FNWJO Executive Officer Ross Earl said an evaluation of the current air services was conducted as part of the renewal of the funding deed and clearly demonstrated the benefits of the air services for the western region.
Mr Earl said 35 per cent of people said they used air services to access specialist health care, 26 per cent fly for leisure and lifestyle and 25 per cent use the services for business and government travel.
“People said air services offered the advantage of time saving (if they needed to see a specialist in a hurry), and safety (ie concerns about fatigue on long driving trips or encountering wildlife on the roads).
“They also responded that businesses relied on the air services to help them attract and retain skilled workers,” Mr Earl said.
FNWJO Chair and Mayor of Cobar Shire Council Jarrod Marsden welcomed the announcement.
“Cobar to Sydney flights have provided significant benefits to the region, and this extension will help our community maintain connection while delivering significant economic and social benefits,” Cr Marsden said.
“We appreciate the ongoing support from the NSW Government for the Western Air Services subsidy, which is vital to the ongoing sustainability of the region.
“The support for air services to the Cobar, Bourke, Walgett, and Lightening Ridge communities is a wonderful example of how local and state governments can work together through the FNWJO to provide real connectivity.
“Whether it be for work, medical, or holiday travel the ability to be in Dubbo or Sydney quickly and reliably is a huge benefit to people and businesses in our areas.
“The patronage is increasing and we are doing everything we can to ensure that the services can stand alone and the money that is generously provided by the Minns Labor government is only there as a backstop guarantee for the airlines and not needed to prop them up (pardon the pun!),” Cr Marsden said.
State Member for Barwon Roy Butler has also welcomed the funding announcement although he said more needs to be done to secure the air services.
“I would encourage government departments to make use of these flights to ensure their long-term viability,” Mr Butler said.
