Orange City Council has replaced the runway lights at Orange Regional Airport with 250 LED lights, at a time when the number of passengers using the airport is on the rise.
This project received grant funding from the Australian Government.
The lighting upgrade was carried out with funding from Round 3 of the Australian Government's Regional Airports Program, which also included upgrades to the transformers, new wiring, light pole installation, and flight testing.
Orange City Council's Airport Community Committee Chair, Cr Jack Evans, says he is proud to see Council's commitment toward renewable energy and business development aligned with Orange's growth.
"These investments are part of our commitment to maintaining the quality of infrastructure for the community. We are committed to developing Orange not only as a regional area but also as a centre for business and tourism, and the airport is a vital part of that," Cr Evans said.
Senator for New South Wales Deborah O'Neill said the Australian Government grant covered half the $660,000 cost of the upgrade, with Orange City Council funding the other half.
"By providing funding for this critical upgrade at Orange Regional Airport, we are helping it to continue to run safely and efficiently, supporting the amenity of this fantastic region by keeping people connected to family, friends, services, and markets," Senator O'Neill said.
The upgrade included the installation of runway lights, taxiway lights, runway end lights, turning node lights, windsock lights, apron flood lights, and precision approach path indicator lights. In 2023, 95,490 passengers used the Orange Regional Airport, up from 84,563 in 2022, which was a 13 percent increase within a year.
So far this year, 30,540 passengers have used the airport; a 7 percent increase in passengers compared to the same period in 2023, which had 28,521 passengers.
Orange City Council is currently exploring the possibility of introducing an Orange to Newcastle flight and is asking residents to share their thoughts on the proposal at https://yoursay.orange.nsw.gov.au/orange-to-newcastle-flight-link.
