Applications opened yesterday for a new state government travel scheme set to benefit aged pensioners in regional NSW.
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The Regional Senior Travel Card comes pre-loaded with $250 for eligible seniors to use on taxis, fuel, Opal cards and pre-booked NSW TrainLink regional train and bus services.
Minister for regional transport and state member for Bathurst Paul Toole said the card will help ease the cost of travel for eligible regional seniors.
"For aged pensioners who live in regional areas, this travel card could be the difference between making or missing a medical appointment," Mr Toole said.
"This is the first time such a scheme has been rolled out in NSW, and it was one of the Coalition government's key commitments at the 2019 state election."
The scheme is eligible to seniors with a valid Pensioner Concession Card or a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card issued by either the Department of Human Services or Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Eligible seniors must live outside of the greater Sydney, Newcastle and Woolongong areas, and will have a minimum of 12 months to use their card from the time of activation.
"The scheme allows pensioners to stay connected with friends and family without the burden of significant transport costs," Mr Toole said.
"Service NSW received over 100 applications for the scheme within the first half hour of opening yesterday, which highlights the strong demand for affordable transport in regional areas."
Bathurst Taxis' production development and marketing manager Paul Shanahan said the scheme will benefit many local pensioners who regularly phone a taxi.
"Think of it this way, the travel card equates to 20-odd taxi fares free of charge," Mr Shanahan said.
"We're always transporting pensioners to nearby appointments, and this scheme is a great opportunity for those who require extra assistance to get around town."
The scheme was piloted recently over three weeks at Coffs Harbour to great success.
Eligible seniors can apply through service.nsw.gov.au, by calling 137788 or visiting a Service NSW centre.