Bush wins and loses

Given Qantas’s historic links and considerable ongoing contribution to the area, it’s a pity this unfortunate saga ever occurred. Positively though, Barcy and Blackall have gained far better airports, services should be safe for some years and future nearby mines may see them able to support stand alone 30+ seaters three or four days weekly. Qantas can upgrade Longreach flights to Q400s as needed.

But south of the borderline, fellow Australians at Cobar and four adjacent places dipped out when Rex pulled Air Link out. They all once had three or four Airlines of NSW F27s per week to Sydney.
There are two possibilities. Cobar’s prior numbers would support a daily pressurised 18 seat direct Sydney, which would be a 90 minute flight. However, no one has been forthcoming, and Brindabella’s recent efforts to start a Cessna Caravan link to connect with Dubbo-Sydney services for the three largest towns has so far been flatly rejected for the required subsidy by the NSW government.

These towns face longer drives to air services at Dubbo or Moree than the above Queensland winners. Were they in Queensland, they might get a protected daily 18 seater service from Sydney to Cobar with a subsidised extension to Bourke three times weekly on a use it or lose it basis- also providing a closer link for the other dumped towns. NSW should consider what locals prefer on a trial, requiring government agencies to use it, rather than drive to bigger towns to catch flights. When the above Queensland flights were reduced the Minister reminded locals they had a subsidised train service to use. The victims in NSW saw their trains long ago became unsubsidised buses.

Even more ironic, just north across the border St George, Cunnamulla and Thargomindah, which together total half the population of Cobar and Bourke, get twice weekly subsidised Dash 8 services to Toowoomba and Brisbane. Lightning Ridge, which has been abandoned by airlines, gets a Queensland subsidised bus link to St George. These stark differences beggar political credibility – little wonder many advocate dumping state governments.

Know thy competition

The reborn Greyhound, our last national bus carrier, has been voted best low cost carrier over the three LCC airlines by a travellers’ group. Seeing every new airline entrant claims to have just been voted best in some unique class by some group, it seems fair enough for the buses. If we had a national transport policy perhaps high speed rail and bus would replace some short haul air with something like the holistic Queensland system benefitting 190,000 passengers per annum would cover thin air routes.

The world’s largest cruiseliner has just been delivered -the 225,000 tonne Oasis of the Seas. Outbound cruises have exploded, with some operators doubling their 2010 programs here, and new and expanded terminals planned. Except for foreign round the world cruises spending a few days here these ships take Australians and their money overseas. Local airlines and others based in Southeast Asia are lifting increasing numbers to board these ships at the expense of local packages. Oddly Townsville, which is not a prime cruise destination, was surprised to be getting a new state/federal funded cruise terminal, although this may have something to do with handling our two new heavy amphibious ships as Townsville being home to a fair part of our rapidly deployable forces.

Beacon and laser madness

Another EMS helicopter has been lasered, but willful activation of 18 ELT beacons (some hidden) in three groups has tied up another regional search and rescue services for some hours at great cost. Storage security and battery removal are surely bleeding obvious but heavy court sentences might help.