Western Sydney Airport progresses

The Federal Government recently released the final Environmental Impact Statement for Western Sydney Airport that has been updated to reflect comments received during the public exhibition. The updates account for updated modelling and provide clarity and further information on aspects of the project.

The updated modelling includes ground-based and taxiing noise, blasting during construction, revised traffic and transport forecasts, air quality and community health. This updated modelling has not changed the overall outcome of the assessment. In addition, the finalised EIS notes that any environmental impacts of constructing and operating the proposed airport will be minimised through the development and implementation of detailed environmental management plans.

The release of the final EIS coincided with the release of a Western Sydney Rail Needs Scoping Paper. The scoping paper requests public feedback on a proposed set of rail options to service Western Sydney and Western Sydney Airport with the aim of assessing how rail services could be operational at the proposed Western Sydney Airport when it opens.

The outcome of the study will be a set of preferred rail options that will be recommended for further investigation through detailed technical analysis. Ultimately, the outputs from the study will form part of the work that informs the NSW Government’s updated Long Term Transport Master Plan and support the Greater Sydney Commission’s District Plans that are released in November this year.