Threat to a village called Wilton from proposed 2nd Sydney airport
There have been demands for many years for another airport for Sydney (Australia) as it is claimed that the current airport is nearly full, and that demand for flying is increasing fast, and will continue to do so. It is even predicted that it will quadruple by 2050. One possible site is called Badgerys Creek, not far from Sydney, though there are many problems with the site. Another potential site is Wilton, a village 80 kilometres south-west of Sydney. This is proving to be very controversial, and there is strong opposition building from local residents against having their homes destroyed, and their lives ruined, by having a massive new airport on their doorstep. Usual pressure by the aviation industry to press for more capacity, with the usual threats of economic doom etc if it is not built. Sounds familiar? They should twin Wilton with Sipson.
Information on the planned 2nd Sydney airport, from Wikipedia:
The local, state and federal governments have investigated the viability of building a second major airport in Sydney since the 1940s.[26]Between 1987 and 2000 domestic flights through Sydney more than doubled to nearly 27 million, and international passengers served increased from 8 million to 15 million. The Sydney region passenger demand is forecast to reach 87 million passengers by 2035, more than doubling, and to double again by 2060.[27] Close to half of all scheduled flights in Australia take off or land at Kingsford Smith. In 1998 the airport handled 45 per cent of international passengers in Australia.[28]
The Federal Government has bought most of the required land in a proposed site at Badgerys Creek, west of Sydney. This site would be accessible by the Westlink M7 motorway. There are currently three proposals for the airport layout, featuring different arrangement of terminals in the centre of the proposed three runways. Despite acquiring almost all the land necessary for the building of the Badgerys Creek airport, and multiple studies and reports commissioned that recommend building the airport, in 1995 new airport leasing legislation was blocked in the Australian Senate, and construction was delayed until after the 2000 Sydney Olympics. All the major Australian airlines including Qantas indicated they would prefer additional development of Kingsford-Smith Airport. In 1998 most local authorities reversed their previous support of the new airport and protested against potential noise and pollution impacts. After the 2001 terrorist attacks decimated the air travel industry, the national government announced its belief that the current Sydney airport could accommodate additional air travel demands for at least another decade. Following this, the State Government released land for housing all across Badgerys Creek, effectively eliminating the site as a potential airport.
The issue of a second airport for Sydney arose again after the Rudd government was elected in 2007. Convinced that capacity at the current airport will be exhausted, it sought a new site. It is believed that various options, including a freight-only airport operation, will be considered. Camden, converting part or all of Richmond and Canberra will be investigated for feasibility, while Bankstown and Badgerys Creek, according to sources, will not.[29]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Airport
and
On Friday 2nd March 2012 the Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese released a 3200 page joint report costing $8m into Sydneys aviation capacity needs. Commissioned by Albanese in 2009, the report was prepared by both state and federal bureaucrats, and private sector representatives.[8] It examined 34 potential airport sites.[9]
The studies major finding was that Badgerys Creek is “clearly the best site for a much-needed second airport for Sydney”, describing the area as “the logical and most cost-effective site for another airport” [8] The report also “calls for planning to begin on a second airport at Badgerys Creek”[10] Badgerys’ has been recommended by planners as an airport site since 1979, where 1700ha of land was acquired from 1986-1991[9] for an international airport, but in recent years has been rejected by both Labor and coalition politicians.[10]
The full report: http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/sydney_av_cap/index.aspx
Full Capacity by 2027
Sydney Airport is struggling to accommodate the demand for flights into and out of the city and, by 2027, the airport will not be able to fit any extra flights.[8] The Sydney region passenger demand is forecast to reach 87 million passengers by 2035, more than doubling, and to double again by 2060.[11] The study shows another airport is needed by 2030 if Sydney is to keep growing at current rates.[8][10] The study said this would delay flights across the country.[9]
Economic costs of inaction
- A$60 billion costs to the economy by 2060 due to capacity constraints.[9]
Mascot upgrades
The study “advocates keeping the existing 11pm to 6am curfew for flights to Sydney’s Mascot airport.”[10] But it does recommend lifting the movement cap at Sydney Airport from 80 to 85 flights an hour.[8] Albanese ruled out raising the movement cap.[8]
When releasing the document Albanese reiterated that the government would not build an airport at Badgerys Creek.[8] Albanese instead said the government would begin planning studies for the second-best airport site, Wilton, further to the south-west. The report said Wilton would probably not attract enough business to be viable before 2030.”[8] The NSW Premier, Barry O’Farrell, opposes a second airport in the Sydney basin, and suggested using Canberra Airport, linked to Sydney by high speed rail. NSW Minister for Transport, Gladys Berejiklian supported this, but the report says that this option is not feasible.[8]
New Airport construction costs
Single-runway airport:
- A$1.7b for airport at Badgerys Creek or Wilton. A$300m for transport links to Badgerys Creek and A$2.3b for Wilton.[9]
Parallel-runway International airport:
- A$5.3b for the airport. A$1.7b for transport links to Badgerys Creek and A$5.7b for Wilton.[9]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Sydney_Airport
Some Australian recent articles about the new Sydney airport controversy:
EXCLUSIVE: AIRPORTS HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE
13.4.2012
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Federal Libs fight O’Farrell on airport
7.4.2012
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/federal-libs-fight-ofarrell-on-airport-20120406-1wgva.html
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Airport can go fly, says Wilton
14.4.2012
http://m.smh.com.au/nsw/airport-can-go-fly-says-wilton-20120413-1wyt9.html
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Albanese kick-starts airport at Wilton
12.4.2012
http://m.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/albanese-kickstarts-airport-at-wilton-20120411-1wsd0.html
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Qantas’ Joyce weighs in on Sydney airport debate
13.4.2012
http://www.leadingcompany.com.au/news/qantas-joyce-weighs-in-on-sydney-airport-debate/20120413641