All aboard: The bus to Dubbo is officially launched.
The Member for Orange Andrew Gee believes the new return bus service from Wellington to Dubbo which will run five times a day ends a long isolation for our town from Dubbo and is amazed the transport issue took this long to solve.
“I think in the future we’ll look back and see this as a very important stage in Wellington’s development,” he said.
“It effectively ends the isolation from Dubbo, our nearest neighbour.”
The owner of the Ogden’s Coaches Eddie Ogden has thanked the community for their support on a windy and wet day as he officially launched the service.
“This has tremendous interest here which is fantastic for the community,” he said.
“Now the public has to prove it’s worth by putting their bottoms on seats.”
Mr Ogden also feels this is a pilot and a possible forerunner for the future, other towns becoming interconnected by bus transport.
“It’s a win, win for everybody concerned and it’s a major investment by the state government and our company as well,” Mr Ogden said.
The Mayor of Wellington, Anne Jones, believes it will drive economically the town and also in areas like health and education, in thanking the NSW Department of Transport, the minister and also Ogden’s for their work for the community.
“Young people can access education and jobs, our seniors and pensioners health services and specialists,’’ she said.
“A fabulous service.”
Mr Ogden started his business with one bus, now he has more than 100 and has a large number of staff working across the region and Wellington is where his heart is, he said.
Local Manager Mandi Ogden said the town had turned out in numbers.
“Also a very good response from the villages including Stuart Town and Mumbil and now they realize they also go through to Dubbo for school and other minor things or to Wellington its great,” she said.
Mr Ogden believes those who utilize the bus will feel a better connection with Dubbo.
“It’s helped Wellington grow up a lot and yes the town can feel more to connected to Dubbo and Narromine now,” he said.
“Mr. Ogden is right,” Mr Gee said.
“This may also drive Wellington economically because people can live and invest here and get to Dubbo by this alternative transport.”
Mandi Ogden said Wellington passengers can also use the hail and ride service, where they can organise the bus to stop for them and explained the time table is also available at the Visitors Information Centre, the council and in some retail outlets.
The time table was also published in Friday’s Times.
