Large bequests from the estates of the late Barbara Webb, Douglas Webb and Thomas Watts are being sunk into a $14 million interactive tourist and education centre and state-of-the-art medical and flight training facilities “under one roof” at the Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section (RFDS SE) Dubbo Base.
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Most of the almost $2 million being injected into the project by the base’s Dubbo Support Group comes from Mr Watts and the Webbs, who were among its foundation members.
The latest donation of $100,000 to the support group from the Rotary Club of Dubbo South will also be invested in a new multipurpose building expected to draw up to 50,000 tourists and train hundreds of pilots and medical staff annually.
The project has received $2.5 million from the state government’s Restart NSW Regional Development Program along with funding from the federal government and the RFDS SE.
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On Tuesday morning a “standing of the steel” ceremony was performed by state Member for Dubbo Troy Grant and Dubbo-based director of the RFDS SE Terry Clark on the 3000-square-metre project site at Dubbo City Regional Airport.
Mr Clark, who doubles as the president of the support group, said the launch of steel works followed completion of tasks such as “cabling and foundations”.
“What we are going to see from today is onwards and upwards growth,” he said.
The new facilities are due to be opened in mid-2019.
The tourist and education centre in the new building will showcase the history of the RFDS and feature a retired RFDS B200 Kingair aircraft, a viewing platform overlooking the airport and cafe.
Mr Grant said the project was expected to inject “millions of dollars” into the community.
“One of the aims of the NSW government is to extend the visitor stay,” he said.
The new building will include administration, patient flow and Telehealth units as well as the medical and flight training facilities.
RFDS SE general manager of aviation and strategic development, David Charlton, said its trainers would bring “advanced training devices” to Dubbo.
About 60 RFDS SE pilots would train at the new facilities which would be opened up to people wanting to “learn to fly”, he said.
Mr Charlton also told of the RFDS SE “looking at some collaborative activities with medical schools”.
He expects that “hundreds of trainees” will engage in aeromedical and flight training each year.
BettaBuilt Pty Ltd, of Toowoomba, is constructing the building with Mr Clark advising of “a lot of local contractors” getting work.