Western Sydney airport would have significant benefits for the region

An urban planner from the University of Western Sydney has called on the state and federal governments to end the squabbling over where to put Sydney’s second airport and commit to the most convenient site, Badgerys Creek, where it will generate significant economic benefits for the region and the city.

The Hawke Federal Government purchased 1700 hectares of land at Badgerys Creek in 1986, but it has sat idle as politicians baulked at the idea of an airport in the region – citing a potential local backlash because of increased aircraft noise.

Professor Peter Phibbs, from the UWS Urban Research Centre, says the economic benefits to the region outweigh considerations of aircraft noise.

“Canberra Airport could be considered a comparable to the proposed Badgerys Creek airport – and has generated significant employment impacts with only modest air traffic volumes,” says Professor Phibbs.

“At the end of the day, I believe the people of Western Sydney would welcome a new airport, as it would provide a wealth of construction, retail, logistics, air freight and other jobs heading into the future.”

Professor Phibbs says the drive from Western Sydney to the current airport at Botany is diabolical, and it is just going to get worse.

“Having a single airport in a global city like Sydney, particularly one located in a traffic blackspot like Kingsford Smith Airport, will become an increasing drag on the Sydney economy and sentence airport users not located close to the airport to increasingly long and expensive journeys,” he says.

Ends

16 November 2012

Contact: Mark Smith, Media Officer