Orange Regional Airport will receive $250,000 to construct a hardstand area to provide safe parking for emergency service and charter aircraft.

The funding is derived from Round 2 of the Australian Government’s Regional Airports Program, Federal Member for Calare and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee announced the funding in the following statement:

“Our regional airports are gateways to destinations all across Australia, providing essential connections between other country areas and our nation’s cities.

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the wider aviation industry, it has brought to light just how invaluable our regional airports are.

They are key links between the regions and the cities and the need to keep them strong and viable has never been more important.”

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd welcomes the news of the funding, “Orange City Council is pleased to work in partnership with the Australian Government to continue to improve the quality of the Orange Regional Airport. In recent years, with government assistance, a lot has been achieved at the airport and this is another important step for a high-profile gateway to our city.”

Since the continued impacts of COVID-19 over the past year, especially with international and interstate border closures, have presented traveling tourists with more opportunities to discover the Orange and Central West regions than ever before.

Mr. Gee commented that one of the key roles of recovery from the current pandemic will be our airports. “While taking to the air has taken a step back during the recent lockdowns, our local airports have proven they can safely handle an increase of commercial traffic once things open up again.

The Central West isn’t just experiencing a boost in tourism. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, a net of 43,000 Australians moved to the regions last year. In 2019, the net figure was nearly 19,000 people. With more people bound for the bush, and making the region their home, it’s important to invest in airport infrastructure to make our region even more desirable for tourists and new residents alike.

Every dollar spent on local infrastructure is a dollar well spent and I look forward to working with the community to deliver this vital funding as we continue recovering from the pandemic,” said Mr. Gee.