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Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) has released its preliminary draft master plan for the next 20 years.
The document, which covers available facilities and infrastructure, strategic planning context, sustainability and forward plans, provides a “cohesive roadmap for the airport precinct” as demand for aviation in Sydney is set to double over the next 25 years, said WSI CEO Simon Hickey.
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“As Sydney’s only 24-hour domestic, international and cargo gateway – WSI is well placed to meet our global city’s significant growth and offer greater choice for airlines and travellers, while driving progress for Greater Sydney, our state and our nation,” he said.
“Our plan charts this pathway to greater prosperity for all of Sydney and covers a diverse depth and breadth of issues and opportunities from future aviation needs and long-term land uses to sustainability initiatives and environmental management as well as flight paths and noise mitigation measures.”
According to Hickey, the airport’s vision is to “become the gateway of choice to Australia and the world” and catalyse growth and development in Greater Western Sydney.
“Beyond the direct $5.3 billion investment to build the airport, state and federal governments have also invested more than $17 billion in rail and road infrastructure that’s connecting the west to the west and the west to the rest like we’ve never seen before,” he said.
“Greater connectivity enables more job opportunities and business growth. In fact, forecasts indicate investment in NSW will be $96 billion higher by 2063, with $85 billion of that increased investment in Western Sydney, due to WSI’s development and its related investments.
“During construction around half our workforce came from Western Sydney and a third were learning on the job through apprenticeships and the like – and as we look to the future the opportunities will be even more diverse and will grow in line with aviation demand.”
The release of the plan, which can be viewed online for feedback, comes amid a flurry of milestones for Australia’s first greenfield airport project in more than 50 years, including the finalisation of works on its initial runway and the approval of its preliminary flight paths.
Speaking at a press event this week, Hickey said he had been speaking with potential carriers at the Routes Asia conference in Perth to expand WSI’s roster beyond its current line-up of QantasLink, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines before it opens next year.
“We talked to over 30 airlines, and there’s a lot of interest in Western Sydney International Airport, and that will come on as we open and it will continue to grow into the future. And you can expect that we will make other announcements about other airlines,” he said.
“Over time we will fill those slots, and then we’ll continue to grow. This airport is designed for growth, and so ultimately we will look to continue to grow efficiently and effectively from here.”
