Dubbo Regional Council has supported a recommendation to increase the parking costs in July.

Currently it costs $10 per day to leave a vehicle in the secure parking spots at the airport and $60 per week. Under the new proposal secure parking will be increased to $15 per day and $90 for the week.

Passenger fees will also be increased.

Dubbo Regional councillor Greg Mohr said fees and charges at the Dubbo airport were reviewed annually as part of council’s annual budget process.

“Council will consider these fees and charges in the context of the overall business of the airport,” he said.

The majority of comments on the Daily Liberal Facebook page were against an increase to the parking costs.

“Is it not best to keep the prices down and fill the car park as opposed to bumping up the price and maybe half filling it. Why price yourself out of the average customer?” one person wrote.

One commenter said they wouldn’t use the secure parking if the costs rose. They weren’t alone, another frequent user of the secure parking said they thought the price increase should be explained to those who use it.

Another wrote: “Parking should be included in the already ridiculously over priced cost of flights out of Dubbo.”.

However, one person said they never used the secure parking.

 “I always park in the free parking lot as do most people,” they said.

The airport is also undergoing major upgrades.

“Construction activity will ramp up over the remainder of 2018 with the commencement of the General Aviation Expansion and Aeromedical Facility Upgrade,” Cr Mohr said.

“Improvements are also being made to provide hire cars a specific drop off/pick up zone and an additional 50-plus spaces to improve the overall service.”

The changes to the fees was also endorsed by the Dubbo Regional Airports Committee.