Western Sydney Airport

Details: Written by: Adam Gatt; Published: 03 January 2019; Last Updated: 08 February 2024

Council is committed to maximising the benefits and minimising the impacts of the airport for Penrith residents.

Western Sydney Airport has the capacity to unlock exciting opportunities for Penrith, providing more local jobs, increased industry, investment and infrastructure, and opening up our City to Australia and the world.

Council is working to harness the opportunities the airport brings and will continue to advocate for better roads, transport, employment and infrastructure to ensure Penrith benefits from Australia’s most exciting major development in decades.

To realise this potential, we have identified several priority issues and the action required to maximise the benefits and minimise the impacts of the airport for the people of Penrith.

To ensure the Western Sydney Airport benefits the people of Penrith, Council is advocating and influencing across a number of priority areas, including:

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	ACHIEVED	IN PROGRESS
A SEAT AT THE TABLE We have the ability to influence the planning of the airport and surrounding areas on behalf of our communities.
Member of the government Forum on Western Sydney Airport (FOWSA).
Member of the Biodiversity Experts Group for Western Sydney Airport.
Member Council of the Western Sydney City Deal.
Working with Greater Sydney Commission and Western Sydney Priority Growth Areas Steering Group.
CONNECTIONS Vital transport connections, both rail and road, must be in place before the opening of the airport.
Commitment from the State and Federal Governments to deliver the first stage of the North South Rail Link from St Marys to Western Sydney Airport in time for the airport’s opening in 2026.
Advocating for the North South Rail Link to be extended, linking growth centres in Campbelltown and Marsden Park.
Submission to the Federal and NSW governments’ Joint Rail Scoping Study.
Seek Federal government investment of $3.6 billion to road projects to connect the Western Sydney Airport to Sydney’s road network and capitalise on the economic benefits of the airport.
CREATE NEW JOBS AND BUILD OUR ECONOMY The airport should be the catalyst to create the number and type of jobs our community wants and drive economic development in Western Sydney.
Commitment from the Federal Government to local employment targets. At least 30% of employees during construction and 50% of employees when in operation will be residents of Western Sydney.
Working with 7 other local governments in the growth corridor of Western Sydney to drive economic development through the Western Sydney City Deals initiative.
LOOKING AFTER OUR HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT Environmental and social impacts must be addressed in the EIS and managed in any approvals to ensure the health and wellbeing of our community is maintained.
Member of the government’s recently formed Biodiversity Experts Group to support the delivery of biodiversity offsets for the airport.
Council’s submission to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) highlighted important health and environment issues for our community.
HEAR US ON NOISE The noise impacts on our community must be minimised.
Single merge point removed and a commitment to share noise from the proposed site.
We continue to advocate through FOWSA.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS = OPPORTUNITY Centres for learning, education and research should be established in Western Sydney to equip our community with the skills they need to aim high and succeed in jobs of the future.
Council endorsed the $5B Sydney Science Park project, adjacent to the airport site. The Park will be an internationally recognised epicentre for research and development in the heart of Western Sydney with more than 12,000 knowledge based jobs, 10,000 students and 10,000 residents.
Council is advocating via the City Deal process and Western Sydney Airport Priority Growth Area for education and skills initiatives in the region.
AN AIRPORT OF THE 21ST CENTURY We see Western Sydney Airport as an iconic site that delivers world’s best practice in access, employment and technology.

To ensure the Western Sydney Airport benefits the people of Penrith, Council is advocating and influencing across a number of priority areas, including:

A SEAT AT THE TABLE Penrith Council is part of the Western Sydney City Deal and Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM is a member of the Forum On Western Sydney Airport (FOWSA) ensuring the voice of our community is heard on the planning of the airport and surrounding areas.

CONNECTIONS - ROADS AND TRAINS The Western Sydney City Deal outlines a commitment from the State and Federal Governments to deliver the first stage of the North South Rail Link from St Marys to Western Sydney Airport in time for the airport’s opening in 2026. Council will continue working to ensure adequate funding for this project and to secure the future extension of the line, linking Campbelltown to Marsden Park.

LOOKING AFTER OUR HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT All environmental and social impacts must be fully addressed and managed in any approvals to ensure the health and wellbeing of our community is maintained.

HEAR US ON NOISE The noise impacts on our community must be minimised. The Sydney Airport Curfew Act 1995 should be amended to become the Sydney Airports Curfew Act and apply to both Sydney and the future airport.

SHOW US THE JOBS & BUILD OUR ECONOMY The airport should be the catalyst to create the number and type of jobs our community wants and drive economic development in Western Sydney.

KNOWLEDGE + SKILLS = OPPORTUNITIES Centres for learning, education and research should be established in Western Sydney to equip our community with the skills they need to aim high and succeed in jobs of the future.

AN AIRPORT OF THE 21ST CENTURY We see Western Sydney Airport as an iconic site that delivers world’s best practice in access, employment and technology.

Council’s position and advocacy has been unwavering.

It is vital these opportunities are realised from the airport, so we've been actively speaking to Federal, State and other local Government representatives about the community’s key priorities.

Western Sydney Airport - Maximising benefits and minimising impacts defines our position on the airport and sets out a clear and concise program of advocacy which the community can be assured we will focus on. Our campaign around these issues will be wide reaching and include direct contact with decision makers and politicians. For maximum impact, we need the community speaking with the same voice.

We have compiled a series of frequently asked questions about the airport and Council's position.

Updates on Western Sydney Airport and Council’s advocacy work

24 January 2019 - Search for terminal designer begins

Leading airport designers will team up with university students with a link to Western Sydney to pitch for a chance to design Western Sydney Airport's terminal.

29 November 2018 - Jobs boost for Western Sydney as business park one step closer

The estimated 200,000 jobs boost for Western Sydney-made possible by Western Sydney Airport-is a step closer today with the appointment of the master plan architects for the Airport's business park.

16 November 2018 - Western Sydney Airport taking off

Significant progress on Australia's biggest aviation project in decades took substantial steps forward today, with two major contract milestones achieved on Western Sydney Airport.

31 October 2018 - First look at Western Sydney Airport Visitor Centre

The first concept design of the Western Sydney Airport visitor centre has today been revealed following the awarding of the construction contract.

31 October 2018 – Download Council's submission on Western Sydney Aerotropolis Land Use and Infrastructure Implementation Plan (LUIIP) (pdf 50kb) sent to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

24 September 2018 - Western Sydney Airport Community Update Issue 3 2018

18 May 2018 – Western Sydney Airport Community Update Issue 2 2018

The second issue of the 2018 Community Update for Western Sydney Airport includes the latest information on the airport project's development.

22 March 2018 – Western Sydney Airport Community Update Issue 1 2018

The first issue of the 2018 Community Update for Western Sydney Airport includes information on completed and upcoming work at the airport site, the appointment of the CEO for WSA Co, and how Aboriginal cultural heritage is being protected. It also includes the latest on current business opportunities and information on the Australian Government’s commitment to maintaining the biodiversity of Western Sydney.

16 March 2018 – Western Sydney Airport targets local jobs

To maximise job opportunities WSA Co will formally commit to strong local employment targets. From 2026 when the airport is fully operational, WSA Co will have a target that 50 per cent of employees will be residents of Western Sydney. There will be a separate target that 30 per cent of workers are residents of Western Sydney during the construction phase.

6 March 2018 – City Deal secures Penrith’s future

Penrith residents are set to benefit from significant investment in the region as Penrith Council secures funding for local projects through the Western Sydney City Deal.

26 February 2018 – WSA Co’s newly appointed CEO to bring wealth of industry experience

WSA Co’s newly appointed CEO to bring wealth of industry experience. Graham Millett has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of WSA Co, the Government-owned company building Western Sydney Airport.

Having grown up in Western Sydney, Mr Millett brings both local knowledge and more than 20 years’ experience managing complex operations across the aviation and infrastructure sectors in senior executive roles in Australia, the United States, Europe and Asia.

22 February 2018 – Early Design for M12 Motorway to Western Sydney Airport Revealed

The early design of the M12 Motorway—which will provide first rate connectivity to Western Sydney Airport and a new motorway connection to rapidly growing areas of Western Sydney—has been unveiled.

24 January 2018 – Western Sydney Airport site is cleared for construction

The last remaining building has been cleared from the Western Sydney Airport site, meaning the 1,780-hectare Badgerys Creek site is now a construction zone with preparatory works currently underway—ready for early stage earthworks to commence before the end of 2018.

Work has also begun to relocate 3.2 kilometres of an aboveground high-voltage power line that crosses the site to an underground cable route.

15 November 2017 – Full WSA Co Board confirmed

The Federal Government has appointed three further Directors to the Board of WSA Co: Mr Vince Graham AM, Ms Anthea Hammon and Mr John Weber.

24 August 2017 – Western Sydney Airport headquarters to be based in Liverpool

Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Paul Fletcher has announced that WSA Co will be headquartered in Liverpool.

7 August 2017 – WSA Co up and running

WSA Co, the new company responsible for constructing Western Sydney Airport, is now officially up and running. An independent Board has been established, and the first four directors have been appointed to drive the construction of Australia’s newest airport. Find out more about WSA Co at wsaco.com.au.

9 May 2017 – Federal Government to build WSA through new company, WSA Co

On 9 May 2017, the Federal Government announced that it will establish a company, to be called WSA Co, to develop and operate Western Sydney Airport. The 2017 Budget includes a commitment of up to $5.3 billion over 10 years for WSA Co to build the airport.

26 May 2017 – First meeting of the Forum on Western Sydney Airport

As a condition of the Western Sydney Airport Plan, the Forum On Western Sydney Airport (FOWSA) has been established as the main community consultation group to provide feedback on the flight path design process. Penrith Mayor John Thain has been appointed to the Forum alongside residents of Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, and a range of representatives from state and local governments, industry and major airlines.

FOWSA met for the first time on Friday 26 May, and toured the Western Sydney Airport (WSA) site.

Further information on Western Sydney Airport and its development is provided by the Federal Government: