While the Brewarrina and Collarenebri communities have historically been starved of transport options, a new 24 month trail funded by the NSW government has the power to change that.
The Brewarrina Outback Express and the Barraay Waraba, meaning ‘Fast Turtle’ in Gamilaraay language, will each offer flexible pre-booked transport services for the Brewarrina and Collarenebri communities.
The two services will give communities greater access to vital health care, employment, social and recreation opportunities which are often for taken for granted in larger towns and cities.
“Outside of school student travel there was previously no transport options for residents of Weilmoringle, 100 kilometres north of Brewarrina,” regional transport minister Jenny Aitchison says.
“Now thanks to investments the NSW Labor Government is making to reduce isolation and improve access to transport where it’s needed most, residents in places like Weilmoringle have a regular service they can rely on to get them to the doctor, grocery store or other transport services.
“These might sound like small things to people in the city but our government understands that investing in services like the Outback Express and Barraay Waraba Fast Turtle can actually make a huge difference to people’s lives by helping to close gaps in life expectancy, educational, employment and other outcomes we often see in remote parts of our state.”
Each service is expected to prove popular as in Brewarrina and Collarenebri, the proportion of households without a registered motor vehicle is well above the state average, with Collarenebri actually being twice the state average.
The Brewarrina Local Aboriginal Lands Council received a grant to operate the Outback Express which will run three days a week from July 31, servicing the Brewarrina community as well as four neighbouring Aboriginal villages — Bush Queen, Barwon 4, Newtown and Billabong.
In late August the Express will also extend to offer a return service from Brewarrina to Bourke once a week on Thursday, and once a fortnight on a Friday from Weilmoringle to Brewarrina.
The Barraay Waraba (Fast Turtle) projectis planned to start on 18 July and bookings can be made from Wednesday July 17. It was proposed by the Healthy Communities Foundation and will establish a regular and reliable transport service between Collarenebri and Moree every Thursday, as well as between Collarenebri and Walgett on Monday and Friday.
“People living in remote communities shouldn’t miss out on travel opportunities, family visits and important appointments because of a lack of transport options. Improving public transport to remote communities will help have an impact on everything from cost-of-living pressures to medical outcomes for people in the bush,” Barwon spokesperson Stephen Lawrence says.
“I hope the local communities will take advantage of these new services and that we make sure they’re around for a long time to come.”