With thanks to funding from the government, CDC Broken Hill will deliver the trial service from 18 November.
The trial will operate each Monday and offer improved access to health, shopping and entertainment options not available in smaller towns.
The new service will depart Broken Hill Visitor Centre at 6.30am and stop for pick-ups and drop-offs at Menindee and Pooncarie before arriving at Mildura Central Shopping Centre at 10.42am and then Mildura Railway Station at 10.54am.
The return service will leave Mildura Railway Station at 3.15pm and Mildura Central at 3.30pm before again stopping at Pooncarie and Menindee before arriving in Broken Hill at 7.39pm.
The service will not take bookings, passengers will be able to just turn up and travel. The cost will vary depending on the passenger’s point of origin and destination, as well as any concession card holders.
Further information on the service, including bus stop locations, can be found by calling 08 8087 3311 or emailing cdcbrokenhill@cdcbus.com.au.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:
“This new weekly trial service will give residents living in the remote communities of Broken Hill, Menindee, Sunset Strip, Pooncarie and Wentworth a reliable bus service to access medical, sporting, educational and social activities in Mildura and beyond.
“Isolation can be a real and serious problem for small communities living in the state’s Far West and we’re confident this new weekly bus service will do a lot to help connect the people here with health and education opportunities.
“This new service is in addition to our other new trial services in Collarenebri and Brewarrina.”
Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:
“It’s good to see the government offering improved access to transport options to our local communities. Being able to get on a regular service for things like medical appointments is absolutely essential in remote areas.
“We need to ensure that this service is exactly what the community needs, so I encourage the people to (literally) get on board for this trial and take advantage of the service, to see if it suits their specific needs.”
NSW Labor’s Barwon spokesperson Stephen Lawrence MLC said:
“Transport for NSW surveyed Far West communities and received overwhelming feedback that residents - including many elderly residents and people living with a disability – would welcome improved transport links to Mildura. It’s great to see the Minns Labor Government delivering on these needs for these communities.
“When Transport asked communities what they wanted from a bus service to Mildura, 46 per cent of respondents said they preferred to stay at least four hours in Mildura before making the return journey so it’s great to see the timetable has been designed with all that in mind.”
