The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is spending $2.5 million on a soft landing for its medical staff in Dubbo by building five new houses.
Two of the homes are expected to be completed this month and the final three by the end of March.
The city’s “very tight” rental market and the planned expansion of services out of the RFDS Dubbo base prompted the project.
RFDS housing committee chairman in Dubbo Terry Clark showed off the houses yesterday and explained their role in building the iconic service.
“When we are trying to attract high-quality medical staff to Dubbo... we want to take away the factor of them having to find a home,” he said.
The RFDS flew into Dubbo in 1999 with the aim of providing increased medical coverage for Western NSW residents.
More than 5000 flights later, one plane has become two and the base first opened in 2001 has received a $1.5 million makeover.
Led by Mr Clark, the RFDS Dubbo Support Group has garnered community help in raising $1 million for the base since 2002, including $755,000 for the capital works completed and opened last year. But no one is resting on their laurels with the base’s responsibilities on the rise.
“The RFDS’ presence in Dubbo is growing continually,” said Mr Clark, who also serves on the RFDS South East Section Board.
“We’re building towards a full team of four doctors in Dubbo.
“We’re moving towards primary health care out of Dubbo, which we’ve never done. We’ve only done transfers and retrievals.
“Primary health care means we take GPs and specialists out to remote areas for clinics.”
The two homes closest to completion are being built by Brett Harvey Construction and Design at Grangewood.
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Maas Constructions is set to hand over the keys of three houses in Delroy Park by the end of March.
Both firms took part in a public tendering process.
“We’re very pleased that local builders did win the contract and that local suppliers and tradespeople are involved,” Mr Clark said.
The $2.5 million budget includes about $600,000 from the Commonwealth, used to buy house blocks.
Mr Clark said the RFDS had provided the rest of the cash but was attempting to secure further grants.
He views the $1.9 million provided by the RFDS as money well spent.
“It is quite desperate for people coming into town looking for rental accommodation and it’s only going to get worse,” Mr Clark said.
Anecdotal reports of dozens of people turning out to inspect individual rental properties gives him the “impression of a very tight rental property market” that may in the future be further influenced by “mining”.
Each of the new homes,”consistent with the current trends”, has four bedrooms, the main with ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.
They also boast two living areas, a modern kitchen, double lock-up garage and outdoor living space.
Three will be fully furnished.
The medical staff who live in the new homes will have “limited maintenance concerns”.
The support group is meeting from 6pm on Monday (Feb 6) at the base near Dubbo airport.
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