Airline announcement imminent

Main photo: Bourke Mayor Barry Hollman is ready to welcome the new airline operator to Bourke Airport. Inset: JO Chair Liliane Brady says the new airline for Bourke Cobar and Walgett will be announced this month. PHOTO TWH

Airline services for Bourke, Cobar and Walgett will soon have ink on the contracts, despite longer than expected negotiations to get the deal done, according to Chair of the Far North West Joint Organisation, Lilliane Brady.

Councillor Brady, who is also Mayor of Cobar Shire Council, said the dates had changed for the announcement of the airline services launch but she said she had been given assurances it would be ‘within weeks’.

“It’s been a long time coming but I feel we’re almost there - and when I say almost, I mean almost!” Councillor Brady said.

“There have been so many changes of dates I’m not quite sure where we’re up to. The last I’m told it will be August 27th, but that could change.

“Apparently Minister for the Western Region Adam Marshall will be coming to launch it and that’s the latest information I have,” she said.

Executive Officer of the Joint Organisation Greg Lamont said the restoration of airline services to the Far West were almost a reality and the project was a demonstration that Joint Organisations of Councils could ‘get things done’.

“This has been a seven-month project and we are very close to finalisation of something that others couldn’t get up in a short time,” Mr Lamont said.

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