Several years ago when I worked at M****r, the company looked into, I think with the state gov, operating as Torres described a hub and spoke type route structure through Longreach. When it was put to the local councils and the people of Western Qld, the feedback was very negative. One of the many arguments I heard was that the RFDS bases responsible for there medical needs were based in Charleville and Isa and if they were to be sent to Hospital in either of those bases, it would be difficult to get home again. I think that is a lame excuse but that is what I was told.