Without a dentist in Cobar for a few months, general manager Ray Smith said he was pleased with the funding announcement which would provide the mich-needed upgrades.

Federal Member for Calare, John Cobb, has congratulated two local organisations on successfully obtaining the funding.

The program, which was started by the previous Coalition Government under the umbrella of the Rural Partnerships Program, assists rural and remote communities improve their health service provision through equipment and maintenance as well as building construction.

Cobar Shire Council was successful in an application for $147,552 for maintenance and equipment purchase funding for the dental surgery.

“Cobar’s funding will assist the council to provide further upgrades to the local dental surgery and provide an incoming dentist with modern equipment,” Mr Cobb said.

NSW Outback Division of General Practice based at Bourke received $166,100 which will expand their work with the purchase of office and pecialist equipment as well as purchase property and a vehicle which will house portable equipment.

“The Outback Division of General Practice has been instrumental in providing medical services to the whole of western NSW and I commend them on their work and their success in obtaining this much-needed funding,” Mr Cobb said.

“Thanks to the neglect of the NSW State Government, both Cobar and Bourke have been at the receiving end of a number of bleak outlooks in health care so the commitment and determination of these two organisations cannot be understated.”