Local residents have a shorter window to access a range of functions after Service NSW reduced its service centre operating hours on Monday.
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The change is part of a statewide rationalisation program, which has seen office hours cut at Service NSW centres across the state.
The Dubbo service centre hours have now been cut to 8.30am-5.30pm weekdays and 8.30am-12.30pm on Saturday.
“Overall only 6 percent of customers were using the service outside of peak hours,” a Service NSW spokesman said.
He said the peak times were at lunchtime and just after school.
“There is zero change to staff levels. It is just a case of re-shaping staff rosters. We will have more staff on during lunchtimes and just after school.”
Residents will soon also be able to purchase Opal public transport tickets from the Dubbo centre, after more than 150 people buying cards in the first weeks of them going on sale in Orange.
The cards can be bought, balances topped-up, concession cards ordered and balances checked at the Service NSW centre.
“You can pay, you can top-up, you can check your balance online,” the Service NSW spokesman said.
He said people could buy adult and child cards on the spot but concession cards needed to be ordered.
That can be done online or by applicants coming to the centre where staff could help them apply on computers in the office.
The Opal card covers train, bus, ferry and light rail travel in Sydney, and on the Intercity train network that extends as far west as Lithgow.
It also covers travel on the daily return Bathurst Bullet service.
Passengers travelling to and from Dubbo still need paper tickets to travel on all other services beyond Lithgow.
A spokesperson for Transport NSW said Orange was one of the first regional cities in to stock the cards, which can also be bought in Mudgee and Parkes.
“Dubbo will be coming online fairly soon.”
Opal cards can also be ordered at opal.com.au or by calling 13 67 25.