Preparations underway for Western Sydney international airport
Momentum builds around the $5.3 billion Western Sydney Airport as the plan for a “vibrant hub of economic activity” begins to take shape, says federal minister for urban infrastructure Paul Fletcher.
Western Sydney Airport is expected to be a catalyst for jobs and economic growth in the region, supporting around 28,000 direct and indirect jobs by the early 2030s.
Speaking at a Property Council luncheon in Sydney recently, Fletcher emphasised the “extraordinary opportunity to shape a greenfields area into a major urban centre”.
Environmental impact statements, airport plans and consultations with Sydney Airport Group have been conducted, and a government-owned company, WSA Co, has been established to build and own the airport.
In the May Budget, the Turnbull Government announced it would inject up to $5.3 billion of equity into WSA Co to fund construction.
The first four directors of the company have been appointed: current chair of Optus Paul O’Sullivan, Qantas’ former chief information officer Fiona Balfour, former managing partner of EY Tim Eddy, and Christine Spring, a civil engineer and aviation infrastructure expert.
The government has also established a community consultation mechanism, the Forum On Western Sydney Airport, which is chaired by Professor Peter Shergold AC, chancellor of Western Sydney University.
Former tenants of the 1800-hectare airport site at Badgerys Creek have vacated, and the site is “being readied for construction,” Fletcher said.
Among the works underway is the relocation of a high-voltage powerline and towers that currently runs across the site.
During his address, Fletcher announced an agreement between WSA Co and TransGrid, the manager and operator of the NSW transmission network, for the undergrounding of a 3.2-kilometre section of the powerline, with work expected to commence later this year.
WSA Co has also announced its procurement strategy for major construction work, with the first expressions of interest to be released in February 2018.
Meanwhile, the Greater Sydney Commission has released drafts of a new Greater Sydney Region Plan and a new Western Sydney District Plan. Western Sydney Airport has been conceived as Sydney’s third “Western Parkland” city.
JLL’s head of research, Andrew Ballantyne, says the Western Parkland City, anchored by the new international airport and Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis, is expected to bring high-quality engineering, robotics and agribusiness jobs to the region, improving the diversity of employment opportunities.
Ballantyne says JLL believes the Aerotropolis will “provide the catalyst for a new commercial precinct and real estate developers will explore the opportunity to develop business parks inclusive of campus-style office accommodation, high-tech logistics facilities and fulfillment centres”.
There is already strong business appetite to locate near Western Sydney Airport or in the surrounding region, Fletcher said.
“Around the world, there is ample evidence that, with good planning, airports can become economic hubs that drive the growth of a region,” Fletcher said, pointing to Incheon Airport in South Korea, Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands and Dallas Fort Worth Airport in the US as examples.
In the tourism sector, a new 275-room luxury hotel at Twin Creeks Golf Club, and a new MGallery by Sofitel hotel at Warwick Farm are on the cards.
In defence and aerospace, the US giant Northrop Grumman has announced plans to build a $ million centre of excellence near the airport, which will see its Australian employment numbers double from 0 to 1,000.
Fletcher said the federal and state governments were working in close collaboration to ensure the new airport would have “first-class ground transport connectivity”.
This includes the jointly-funded $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan, which is building and upgrading roads to link Western Sydney Airport to Sydney’s road network. The two governments are also finalising a scoping study into the rail needs of Western Sydney and Western Sydney Airport.
The single largest planning, investment and delivery partnership in Australia’s history, the Western Sydney City Deal, is also underway. The Federal and NSW governments and eight Western Sydney councils are working together to develop a 20-year plan that leverages the airport and surrounding infrastructure investment.
While the federal government remains tight-lipped about timeframes, Assistant Minister for Cities Angus Taylor has said the strategic work of the NSW Government and Greater Sydney Commission aligns with the City Deal, and “we are on track to realise this vision and complete the City Deal in coming months”.
Fletcher emphasised the importance of “good placemaking” and the role of the property industry in delivering this.
“The drive, energy and vision of the property sector will be critical if we are to succeed in making this a world class area to live, work and play,” he said.