The proposed upgrades have been a wish list item for Edward River Council for many years.
It even pre-dates the formation of ERC in the 2016 local government amalgamation process, with the former Deniliquin Council actively pursuing improvements and the opportunities that come with them.
Reacting to the NSW Government announcement confirmed Thursday last week, Mayor Ashley Hall expressed his enthusiasm for the project.
“This initiative is more than just an infrastructure project; it’s about the health, safety, and resilience of our community.
“Ensuring that Deniliquin and the surrounding areas have access to top-quality emergency healthcare that we might not have otherwise had is a significant achievement.
“We are thankful to the New South Wales Government for listening to our concerns and taking action to facilitate a safer, more efficient airport service in Deniliquin.”
Deniliquin is one of three regional locations earmarked for airport upgrades, with $15 million to be shared between White Cliffs and Bourke.
An exact funding amount of each location has not been confirmed.
This funding is part of the NSW Government’s $400 million Regional Development Trust, aimed at enhancing infrastructure to boost economic development and ensure vital healthcare and emergency services can reach these communities.
The funding could potentially be used to increase runway lengths, widths, and weight limits to safely accommodate larger planes with bigger loads.
Additionally, improvements to taxiways, lighting, and line markings may be incorporated to enhance visibility and safety for pilots.
At Deniliquin, a longer runway would enable the air ambulance to land and take off in almost all conditions.
Edward River Council Interim CEO Gary Arnold said council has been advocating for airport upgrades to improve safety and serviceability for many years.
“Earlier this year, $5.5 million works to improve the durability and strength of the runway pavement and an upgraded lighting system were completed.
“This new funding opportunity takes an additional important step further, allowing us to potentially lengthen and widen the runway to accommodate a larger variety of planes, especially emergency services.”
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