Australia: Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek signed off by Federal Government

Sydney already has a large airport, near the coast, but in April 2014 the Australian Federal Government designated Badgerys Creek as the site for the Second Sydney Airport. It is being called Western Sydney airport, and it is inland and is within 7 kilometres of the Blue Mountains National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site).  It is be a one runway airport with no night time curfew – flights 24 hours.  In November 2014 a set of 40 environmental conditions, looking at issues such as biodiversity, noise and heritage, were set out. The government thinks they can be achieved, and the airport can proceed.  The government has approved the airport plan, with the minister giving determination on 12th December.  The next step in the process was for the federal government to issue the Notice of Intention, and this was announced on 20th December 2016. “Under the contract, Sydney Airport Group would be required to build the airport to the required standard—including a 3,700 metre runway and a terminal with capacity for 10 million passengers a year. It sets out key milestones—with earth moving works to commence by late 2018 and airport operations to commence by 2026.” Some parts of the work have now started. The airport might be complete by around 2025 to 2027.
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Lots more information about the Western Sydney airport at Badgery Creek at  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Sydney_Airport


Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek signed off by Federal Government

By Danuta Kozaki   (ABC Australia)
12 Dec 2016

RELATED STORY: Campaigner slams noise impact claim in Badgerys Creek Airport EIS
RELATED STORY: Badgerys Creek Airport noise minimised under environmental conditions

A second Sydney airport was locked in on Monday when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Federal Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher signed off on the Badgerys Creek plan.

Key points:

Malcolm Turnbull and Paul Fletcher sign off on a plan for a second airport in Western Sydney

Airport is due to be be operational in mid-20s. By 2030 it is estimated up to 10 million passengers will use the terminal

The first single runway will be large enough to accommodate an A380 aircraft
The Airport Plan was formulated after decades of debate about the Badgerys Creek site.

Stage One of Western Sydney Airport is due to be operational in the mid 2020s, with a single runway and facilities for about 10 million passengers a year.

Mr Fletcher said Western Sydney Airport would bring big benefits for the city and the nation.

“For some two million people it will be closer than Kingsford Smith [Sydney] Airport,” he said.
Mr Fletcher said stage one would include a single runway, with another runway mid this century.

“There’ll be a 3,700-metre runway up to and including an airbus 380,” he said.

“There’ll be a terminal that will cater for up to 10 million passengers a year — that is the traffic levels we expect to get to by the early to mid 2030s.”

The new airport will be a major generator of jobs and economic activity for Western Sydney, both during construction but also once it is operational.

“By 2030 it is expected to generate around 9,000 jobs,” Mr Fletcher said.

David Borger from the Western Sydney Airport Alliance said he believed an airport at Badgerys Creek was now inevitable.

“Finally today we have the approval of the airport plan, which is imminent … which will allow the airport to proceed so I think people are pretty positive it’s actually going to happen now,” he said on Monday.

Not everyone happy about airport

The Blue Mountains Council west of Sydney said a second Sydney airport at Badgerys Creek would have a severe impact on the World Heritage site.

Mayor Mark Greenhill said the plans were incomplete, leaving residents and Sydney’s water supply vulnerable.

“I don’t know how in my city noise attenuation is going to work, I don’t know what the impacts on flora and fauna is going to be,” he said.

“I don’t know what the impact on our air quality is going to be. I don’t even know where the planes are going to be flying, that’s how inadequate this process is going to be.

“If this is Malcolm Turnbull’s idea of a Christmas present I want to take it back on Boxing Day.”
The peak local government body Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) president Stephen Bali said the signing off on plans was premature.

“After 50 years of discussion we still have no real rail plan,” he said.

“It is a 24/7 airport, versus Mascot, which is only 16 hours.

“There are no flight paths, no noise abatement, no fuel lines … the Environmental Impact Statement that has been done failed on several grounds.”

In a written statement, Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg said he had considered the Airport Plan against the findings of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and strict conditions had been placed on the airport’s development.

‘It’s going to make life easier’

Commuter Jodie Guthrie said she would gladly use Western Sydney Airport, even without a direct rail link, as she currently drives to the Sydney Airport.

She said a second airport would bring benefits to everyone.

“There is so much pressure on one airport in Sydney with the high population,” she said.

“The benefits [will be] to business, parking and getting in and out a lot quicker.”

Jason Armstrong
PHOTO: Jason Armstrong from Canberra thinks the airport could be problematic if it is too far out. (ABC News: Mark Reddie)
Jason Armstrong from Canberra said there would be many benefits, but is worried about transport.

“I think the potential is good if it can get more people on their flights on time,” he said.

“But if it’s too far out of the city it could be a problem especially for people who don’t have the money for taxis or Ubers.”
Nick from Katoomba in Sydney’s Blue Mountains told 702 ABC Sydney he cannot wait for the new airport.

“At the moment it takes me three hours door-to-door to get to the airport,” he said.

Waiting at Sydney Airport, Sydneysider Bill Meischke said a second airport was much needed.

“The location is not convenient for us, but the traffic coming into here is unbelievable,” he said.

“It is going to make life easier getting in and out because we do not all have to go the same airport.”

Government ‘jumping ahead before Christmas’

However, Mr Bali said a $3 billion airport should have proper plans before being announced.

“It needs multi-billion-dollar infrastructure to go with it,” he said.
“None of these plans have come out, yet the Federal Government is jumping ahead just before Christmas.”

The Federal Government said rail options were still being considered and it was working with the New South Wales Government to map out road and rail linkages to the site.

The State Government is expected to announce its second airport transport plans today.

Mr Fletcher said the first major work would be to level the site, which is due for completion by the end of 2018.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-12/western-sydney-airport-at-badgerys-creek-signed-off/8111176

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AUSTRALIA: Western Sydney Airport update

9 January 2017

The Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure has determined the Airport Plan for the Western Sydney Airport under the Airports Act 1996 (Cth), with this determination published on the internet on 12 December 2016.

A necessary pre-condition for the Urban Infrastructure Minister to approve this Airport Plan was the assessment and approval by the Federal Minister for the Environment and Energy.

The minister provided his approval, along with approximately 40 environmental conditions. These conditions were dated 11 November 2016. See Media Release.  [Copied below]

The next step in the process was for the federal government to issue the Notice of Intention, announced via a media release (PF092/2013) by the Minister for Urban Infrastructure on 20th December 2016.

Partial extract follows:

“Today’s provision of the Notice of Intention follows the approval of the final Airport Plan earlier this month, and issuing the final Environmental Impact Statement in September.”

As part of Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport being privatised in 2002, Sydney Airport Group was granted a Right of First Refusal to build and operate Western Sydney Airport. Under the terms of the Right of First Refusal the Commonwealth Government was required to consult with Sydney Airport before issuing a Notice of Intention.

The Notice of Intention comprises around 1,000 pages of detailed legal documents; successive drafts have been provided to Sydney Airport Group throughout an extensive consultation process extending over some two years.

These documents specify the Commonwealth’s terms for developing and operating the Western Sydney Airport; if Sydney Airport Group accepts the Notice of Intention these will be the terms of the contract between the Commonwealth and Sydney Airport Group governing the construction and operation of Western Sydney Airport.

The Commonwealth considers that the consultation process has allowed Sydney Airport Group to become substantially familiar with the terms of the Notice of Intention, meaning that, under the terms of the Right of First Refusal it has four months in which to accept the Notice of Intention.

Under the contract, Sydney Airport Group would be required to build the airport to the required standard—including a 3,700 metre runway and a terminal with capacity for 10 million passengers a year. It sets out key milestones—with earth moving works to commence by late 2018 and airport operations to commence by 2026. 

All of the costs of building and operating the airport would be met by Sydney Airport Group in return for all of the economic benefits of ownership of the airport over 99 years.

Should Sydney Airport Group choose to decline the opportunity to build and operate Western Sydney Airport, the Government will be free to develop and operate the airport itself, or to offer the opportunity to other private sector companies on substantially the same terms as those offered to Sydney Airport Group.”
Regarding the issue of construction works, various road work projects have commenced under the $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan, and some are well underway.

This major programme of road projects has been sold by the federal government as ‘works required for the airport’, but more importantly, these works were necessary to meet existing demands on roads caused by population growth of the surrounding areas, let alone the predicted additional one million people who will move into the region over the next decade or two.

By Paul Goleby

Vice-President, RAWSA (Residents Against Western Sydney Airport)
www.rawsa.info glenaslow@hotmail.com

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More Than 40 Strict Environmental Conditions Set for Proposed Western Sydney Airport

11 November 2016  

(Website of Josh Flydenberg, the Federal Member for Kooyong and Minister for the Environment & Energy)

A strict set of more than 40 environmental conditions, addressing environmental issues across biodiversity, noise and heritage, must be adopted for the proposed development of the Western Sydney Airport to proceed. This is as comprehensive a set of conditions placed by the Commonwealth on any airport in the country.

The recommended conditions have been informed by a thorough and rigorous review of the environmental impact statement and draft Airport Plan, a site visit and meetings with key local leaders to hear firsthand the issues important to the community.

Extensive consultation was carried out during the development of the environmental impact statement where there were around 5,000 submissions and 16 community information events across nine different council areas in Western Sydney.

The comprehensive set of more than 40 conditions to protect the environment will:

·      Ensure the airspace design explicitly addresses a range of environmental factors, including minimising the impact of noise on residential areas, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and other sensitive locations;

·      Build on the measures and plans outlined in the environmental impact statement, to ensure a comprehensive environmental management framework to minimise and manage environmental impacts during construction and operation of the airport;

·      Provide a comprehensive package of up to $180 million in biodiversity offsets in consultation with ecology experts;

·      Ensure that fuel supply options compare the social, economic and environmental costs, savings and benefits of road transport to alternatives including a fuel pipeline with a review of this matter to commence by the end of 2017; and

·      Require a $10 million contribution to a native seed program run by Greening Australia. This innovative program will future proof seed supply in Western Sydney to support conservation replanting programs on Western Sydney’s Cumberland Plain.

With these conditions and the existing regulatory regime already in place I am confident the first stage of this development can now proceed.

After including these important environmental conditions, the Minister for Urban Infrastructure will now be in a position to finalise the Airport Plan and authorise Stage 1 of the development.

I look forward to my continued involvement in this project, which I expect to include receiving the Biodiversity Offsets Delivery Plan and, in future years, the final proposal for flight path and airspace design.

The complete set of Commonwealth conditions for the Western Sydney Airport, including the environmental conditions, can be found at westernsydneyairport.gov.au

http://www.joshfrydenberg.com.au/guest/mediaReleasesDetails.aspx?id=282

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‘Notice of Intention’ another key milestone towards delivery of Western Sydney Airport

20 December 2016

from The Hon Paul Fletcher MP, Minister for Urban Infrastructure – Australian Government

The Turnbull Government has today provided a ‘Notice of Intention’ to Sydney Airport Group—setting out the formal contractual terms for Sydney Airport Group to develop and operate Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek.

“Providing the Notice of Intention is another key milestone towards delivery of the Western Sydney Airport,” said Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher.

“2016 has been a critical year for getting the essential regulatory and contractual preconditions in place for delivery of Western Sydney Airport.

“Today’s provision of the Notice of Intention follows the approval of the final Airport Plan earlier this month, and issuing the final Environmental Impact Statement in September.”

As part of Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport being privatised in 2002, Sydney Airport Group was granted a Right of First Refusal to build and operate Western Sydney Airport. Under the terms of the Right of First Refusal the Commonwealth Government was required to consult with Sydney Airport before issuing a Notice of Intention.

The Notice of Intention comprises around 1,000 pages of detailed legal documents; successive drafts have been provided to Sydney Airport Group throughout an extensive consultation process extending over some two years.

These documents specify the Commonwealth’s terms for developing and operating the Western Sydney Airport; if Sydney Airport Group accepts the Notice of Intention these will be the terms of the contract between the Commonwealth and Sydney Airport Group governing the construction and operation of Western Sydney Airport.

The Commonwealth considers that the consultation process has allowed Sydney Airport Group to become substantially familiar with the terms of the Notice of Intention, meaning that under the terms of the Right of First Refusal it has four months in which to accept the Notice of Intention.

Under the contract, Sydney Airport Group would be required to build the airport to the required standard—including a 3,700 metre runway and a terminal with capacity for 10 million passengers a year. It sets out key milestones—with earth moving works to commence by late 2018 and airport operations to commence by 2026.

All of the costs of building and operating the airport would be met by Sydney Airport Group in return for all of the economic benefits of ownership of the airport over 99 years.

Should Sydney Airport Group choose to decline the opportunity to build and operate Western Sydney Airport, the Government will be free to develop and operate the airport itself, or to offer the opportunity to other private sector companies on substantially the same terms as those offered to Sydney Airport Group today.

Mr Fletcher said the Commonwealth had developed the terms in the Notice of Intention following extensive consultations with Sydney Airport Group and obtaining advice from a team of international technical experts.

“I am confident that the terms the Commonwealth has put to Sydney Airport Group are in the public interest—with a view to securing a high quality airport in the required time frame,” he said.

The terms set out in the Notice of Intention will allow for Western Sydney Airport to be built and operated so as to meet the needs of future passengers and continued demand for aviation services. As a greenfield airport, it will use the latest available technology and design principles, to be a truly 21st-century airport.

Importantly, the terms set out in the Notice of Intention align with and build upon the recently finalised Airport Plan, which includes binding environmental conditions.

The Turnbull Government’s work to deliver Western Sydney Airport will not stop during the period that Sydney Airport Group considers the Notice of Intention.

Work to demolish and clear structures on the airport site is continuing and is expected to be complete in coming months; geotechnical survey work is currently underway; soon a period of groundwater monitoring required under the Environmental Impact Statement will commence; and work is well underway on road connections to and around the site.

Over the next two years, key priorities include undergrounding the high voltage transmission line which runs across the site, and relocating part of the Northern Road which runs across part of the site, with this relocation to commence in 2017, as part of the $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan.

The Turnbull Government is committed to delivering Western Sydney Airport with operations to commence in the mid twenty twenties. Determining the party which will build and operate the airport is critical, and hence this week’s provision of the Notice of Intention is a vital step towards getting Western Sydney Airport delivered.

For more information visit www.westernsydneyairport.gov.au.

http://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/pf/releases/2016/December/pf092_2016.aspx

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Paul Goleby is vice president of RAWSA.  He commented:

Sydney already has a large airport (Kingsford Smith Airport) that is under-capacity and is situated on the coast. However in November 2015 the Australian Federal Government resurrected the idea of Badgery’s Creek as the site for the Second Sydney Airport. The proposed 24hr airport is being called the Western Sydney Airport, is located 47kms inland in a geographical ‘basin’, just 7 kilometres from the Blue Mountains National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site).  The proposed site is bound on the west by ranges so pollution is trapped within the ‘basin’ before winds can push it out to sea. (This graphic explains it well

http://www.condellpark.com/bear/smogbasin.htm)

The Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure has approved his own department’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposal, which has subsequently been endorsed by the Federal Minister for the Environment and Energy, albeit with a set of 40 conditions that considered construction issues as well as biodiversity, noise and heritage. It should be noted that the same department is the approving authority on these conditions.

The current step was for the Federal Government to issue the Notice of Intention, and this was announced on 20th December 2016. “Under the contract, Sydney Airport Group would be required to build the airport to the required standard—including a 3,700 metre runway and a terminal with capacity for 10 million passengers a year. It sets out key milestones—with earth moving works over the 4000 acre site to commence by late 2018 and airport operations to commence by 2026.”

Other road infrastructure projects have commenced which will only just meet the transport needs of the surrounding population growth areas, let alone the anticipated 1.8 million tonnes of road freight, the 87,000 cars per day, or the fuel tankers required to provide the necessary aviation fuels.

The airport is proposed to start as a single runway airport, primarily servicing noisier freight aircraft, and will operate without a night time curfew, so flights will be 24 hours, 7 days per week. Stage 1 is planned to be operational by 2025, with the second ‘long term stage’ of a second runway and facilities to be to working for 2063.

A parliamentary reference document on this project can been seen at:

Decade of deferral http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/H7Z56/upload_binary/h7z564.pdf;fileType=application/pdf#search=%22airport%20Transport%22

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