Although the land for a Western Sydney airport was purchased decades ago, there has been continuing uncertainty regarding the Badgerys Creek site.
On 26 August, the declaration of the site for Sydney's second airport was officially formalised, with a full-service, 24 hour airport expected to be operating within a decade.
IPWEA CEO Robert Fuller touched base with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss about the scale of the project, transport infrastructure surrounding the project, and the opportunities the airport could present to the public works and engineering community.
Robert Fuller: You’ve said the airport will be among the most impressive civil engineering projects to take place in Australia during the next decade. What specifically makes this project a standout in the field of engineering?
Warren Truss: The planning and construction of a new greenfield airport is an enormous undertaking. The Commonwealth-owned site at Badgerys Creek is 1,700 hectares (approximately twice the land areas of Australia’s busiest airport, Kingsford Smith Airport) of undulating terrain.
Earthworks for stage 1 of the airport development would impact approximately 60 per cent of the site and would involve over 20 million cubic metres of cut and fill earthworks.
By comparison, the nearby M7 Motorway which is 41km in length required 7 million cubic metres of earthworks.
Robert Fuller: What kind of opportunities will the various stages of construction provide to workers and companies in the field of engineering and public works? How many people are expected to be employed?
Warren Truss: Pending the finalisation of the Environmental Impact Statement and Airport Plan, construction could begin next year.
This could take the form of site preparation works, in accordance with any environmental protection measures. Construction of the airport is expected to generate thousands of jobs, in addition to the jobs already generated as a result of the Australian Government’s investment in roads around Badgerys Creek through the $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan.
Further information about the employment generated by the airport will be available in the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed airport, which is expected to be released for community consultation later this year.
However, it is expected that the initial construction phase could generate over 4,000 jobs and the ongoing operation of the airport would generate many more times this amount over its lifetime. Over 30,000 jobs could be generated directly in the airport’s operation up to 2060, and indirect employment around the airport site could contribute an additional 30,000 jobs.
The initial site preparatory works will involve numerous opportunities for engineers, earthworks contractors, and environmental specialists. The construction of the airport infrastructure will involve the construction of the runway, designing and constructing the terminals and other buildings, on site road works, building fit outs and landscaping. The Government will have more to say about the construction plan in due course.
Robert Fuller: You have previously said the approach to infrastructure surrounding the airport will be roads first, airport second. At what stage is the construction of roads around the airport area, and why do you think this was an important approach to take?
Warren Truss: The Australian Government is committed to delivering world-class transport connections for the proposed airport at Badgerys Creek and, in partnership with New South Wales, has announced a $3.6 billion, 10-year investment in transport infrastructure known as the Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan. The Plan will include upgrades of The Northern Road, Werrington Arterial Road, Ross Street and Bringelly Road, building a new motorway between the M7 and The Northern Road, as well as $200 million Australian Government funded package to upgrade local roads around the airport site.
Construction of Bringelly Road stage 1 is already well underway, with stage 2 to follow. The entire Bringelly Road project is expected to be completed by 2019. Construction on the Werrington Arterial Road is also underway, with the project expected to open to traffic in late 2016. Construction of The Northern Road Stage 1 is expected to commence in late 2015. Construction of further stages has been brought forward so that the entire upgrade will be completed by the end of 2019 to facilitate the commencement of construction on the proposed airport on time. Further road developments will follow, with all scheduled to be completed before the opening of the airport.
The construction of this key road infrastructure will capitalise on the economic gains from developing an airport, and is vital to support the efficient operation of the airport from day one.
Robert Fuller: The decision to open the airport in 2026 without a rail line has met with criticism. What is the government’s future plans for rail at Badgerys Creek?
Warren Truss: The Australian Government will make the airport site rail ready in its planning and design, including a rail corridor, an underground station box and associated tunnelling. Transport for NSW is working with the Australian Government to identify suitable passenger rail corridor options to serve a Western Sydney airport and the broader Western Sydney Employment Area.
The airport will also be supported by future land transport services through road upgrades, park and ride facilities and new bus services providing direct links to major centres in Western Sydney.
Construction has already begun on the first road projects funded under our Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan, which is a joint Australian and New South Wales Government road investment of $3.6 billion over 10 years.
Robert Fuller: When will the Environmental Impact Statement be made public?
Warren Truss: Earlier this year, the Australian Government introduced legislation to allow the draft Environmental Impact Statement and draft Airport Plan to be prepared and publicly exhibited at the same time. The Government expects that community consultation will occur later this year.
In part two of discussions on the Badgerys Creek airport, Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) president Councillor Tony Hadchiti will speak about the group's views on the project.