Orange mayor John Davis said the $3 million facility was needed and would provide unique opportunities to the council in the next six months.

“There’s a number of projects that are coming through to council that could create quite a number of jobs in quite a number of industries and could be based at this airport, on the site,” he said.

“That would be absolutely fantastic because a lot of people are saying, ‘Why are we having expansions? Why are we spending money?’, and that we haven’t really got a game plan. Well, I’m here to tell you today that we have got a game plan.” 

Deputy mayor Chris Gryllis said the council was in discussions with businesses interested in establishing themselves at the airport. 

“We are in the box seat,” he said. 

Member for Calare John Cobb said he was sceptical at first about the scale of the project.

“When I first heard that this was happening, I thought, ‘Do we need to spend that?’, but then I stopped and thought it is about the future, it is about us wanting tourists, particularly overseas tourists,” he said.

Member for Orange Andrew Gee said the upgraded facilities would reclaim Orange’s mantle as a leader of regional aviation.

“Regional aviation is changing and we’re not sure what the future looks like yet, but to be able to take passenger jets is absolutely a huge advantage.”

Cadia Valley Operations general manager Tony McPaul said the project took courage and foresight.

“Part of what makes the central west so special is we’ve got that foresight and then the conviction to go ahead and introduce ideas like this, and take the short-term criticism that it might get us but to do it for the long-term future of the region,” he said.

Jamie Newman delivered a welcome to country and following the cutting of the ribbon, dignitaries took a tour of the terminal.

Among them was aviation stalwart Max Hazelton, who believed there was a future in Orange for aircraft maintenance businesses.

“It will be good to have a terminal this size, it’s a bit like the Sydney Harbour Bridge when people wondered why there were so many lanes,” he said.