The residents of Warren Shire now have access to four new or improved facilities.

Yesterday Mayor Milton Quigley, MP Roy Butler, Warren Shire councillors, and some community members welcomed the upgrades to the Warren Airport, at the racecourse, Ewenmar waste depot, and an augmentation to the bore flat water supply. 

The Ewenmar waste depot project saw the addition of a structure that allows visitors to load their general waste into a small truck from overhead, as opposed to going down to the pit which can become muddy and dangerous.  The council will then empty the truck as it begins to fill up.

"Warren was one of the last waste facilities where people were able to tip at the pit, which had significant risk associated with it," Councillor Andrew Brewer, who is part of the economic development and promotions committee said. 

The changes will allow the waste depot to be kept open even during wet weather. It took the Warren Shire Council less than a year to finalise the changes. 

It will also reduce the delivery of unaccepted waste items, such as tires, chemicals, and materials that belong in recycling. 

Project costs for the Ewenmar waste facility totalled $340,000. 

Around $155,000 of the funding comes from an Environment Protection Authority grant, as part of the Waste Less, Recycle More initiative.

Airport investment

Upgrades to Warren Airport have been around five years in the making. 

The original building constructed in 1960 did not meet modern comfort standards, according to the Warren Shire Council.

Yesterday saw the official opening of the brand new building after the demolition of the old building last year, along with work on the runaways, taxiways, and aprons, the installation of a backup generator for the runway lighting, drainage improvements, and an automatic weather station. 

"We've also put a fuel tank there so aircrafts can refuel in Warren. That was always a problem," Cr Brewer said. 

 The new Warren Airport Terminal Building. Supplied by Warren Shire Council

The upgrades will benefit services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, aero medical services, air freight services, charter operations, aerial firefighting for NSW Rural Fire Services, and the private aviation community. 

The new building also features additional amenities, including showers, toilets, a kitchen, a meeting room, and offices. 

Cr Brewer said they are the types of upgrades that will entice a Bankstown flying school to come out and do training there. 

The Airforce already flies out from Newcastle regularly to have training sessions on the bitumen and gravel runways. 

The Warren Airport Improvement Facilities project received $2.37 million in grant funding from the NSW Government's Drought Stimulus Package, $185,000 of the funding went towards the terminal building upgrades. 

And they're racing!

The Falkiner Lounge at the racecourse also saw a general makeover with automatic doors, air conditioning, and carpets. Guests now also have a more accessible entry thanks to a ramp that was installed.

 Final GB Falkiner Lounge. Photo supplied by Warren Shire Council

Last year, the Warren Shire Council also updated the equestrian facility at the race track but saved the official opening for this week. 

"These projects represent our commitment to creating a more modern, useable, inclusive, and safe Warren Showground Racecourse Complex for our nine different user groups and their guests," Mayor Quigley said. 

"The arena has been amazing for the pony club," Kate Barclay from the local riding group said. 

The project was supported by $3.6 million in grants and in-kind donations. 

The Council is still finalising exclusion fencing at the racecourse to keep out kangaroos and other wildlife through the NSW Showground Stimulus Program. 

Improved firefighting capacity

Warren's firefighting capability also improved thanks to the augmentation to bore flat water supply which is now linked to the river water system if needed in times of drought. 

A new 2.5 km pipeline will move water between the Bore Flat and Ellengerah bore fields. 

"The last drought we went very close to having to evacuate the hospital because there was no firefighting capability on that side of the river because the river was so low," Cr Brewer said. 

"By doing this we drought proofed the firefighting capability inside the levy bank."

 Bore Flat Tanks. Supplied by Warren Shire Council

Additionally, there are three new crossover connection points along the town's existing pipelines that when opened allow the transfer of bore water into the river pipeline for firefighters to source in an emergency.

Control devices ensure that no untreated river water enters the bore mains. 

"Providing a greater connection between the two bore fields along with new storage and state-of-the-art chlorination systems that purify the water onsite is also a major win for our residents," Mayor Quigley said. 

Cr Brewer said it's been fulfilling to see these projects come to a close at the end of this council's term. 

"It's really good to look back and see projects that we started years ago come to fruition and make significant improvements to the town."