(Based on notes taken during a couple of presentations at last week’s NSW Infrastructure Projects Conference in Sydney)
Badgerys Creek Airport is already renamed Western Sydney Airport (WSA).
Construction starts in 2018 and is due to open in 2026 ... it’s not all about the airport, it’s about development around the airport.
From about now to the mid 2050’s an Aerotropolis, a logistics and technology themed city the size of Adelaide, will be constructed around WSA.
The Aerotropolis is the “Western Parkland City” of the Greater Sydney Commission’s “Three Cities Vision” for Sydney to mid the 2050’s. The other two cities are the medical sciences, pharma & bio research and health services themed Central Riverside City at Parramatta and the financial services themed Eastern Harbourside City being the current Sydney CBD and surrounds.
But back to the Aerotropolis ...
There is ample global evidence of development impacts surrounding high frequency airports and there are specific examples of development impacts associated with other global aerotropolises (aerotropoli lol?). There are measurable increases in jobs, with a higher than otherwise portion being professional and better paid.
A successful aerotropolis has to be masterplanned, with critical elements being consolidated governance, well planned access, attracting investors, access to an educated and skilled workforce, digital connectivity and solutions.
Research informs that professional jobs will be based 4-15km from the airport and that connectivity with other employment hubs within the city, notably the emerging Central Riverside City is critical. This targeted thinking needs to be replicated for logistics, manufacturing and retail industries etc in order to include the factors critical for each.
So, without a doubt imo, there will be rail connectivity to the NSW Govt’s recently announced Western Metro Line from Parramatta to the Sydney CBD ... a rapid, 160 km/hr major stops only variant on the metro model, with probably at least 2 stops within the Aerotropolis, 1 at the coming Western Sydney Science Park, a couple within the Central Riverside City, another within the Homebush Bay Olympics precinct, the Bays Precinct approaching Sydney CBD and the CBD itself.
On the Sydney Science Park, there will be 13,000 students, 10,000 jobs with partner industries and integrated housing development. Directly and indirectly associated with WSA there will be 50,000 aviation related jobs in the Aerotropolis and many more in logistics and technology.
There will be intermodal transport connectivity from the WSA Metro Rapid Line to light rail loops, heavy rail lines and buses etc. Stage 1 construction of the Parramatta Light Rail starts 2019. Imo, there will almost certainly be light rail loops within the Aerotropolis.
A north-south metro rail line through western Sydney is a game changer. By 2036, 2 out of 3 Sydneysiders will live in Western Sydney. Penrith is only 22 minutes drive from WSA so there will almost certainly be development and jobs uptake in that city from WSA. Penrith City Council is already planning for “Opportunity Precincts” as part of their city vision that just didn’t exist pre WSA.
The NSW and Federal Liberal Governments facilitate WSA and transport infrastructure and then development innovation within a government masterplanned framework does the rest.
The knockers here on HC Politics can knock all they want, but they are misreading the emerging reality of planning and construction momentum. There children will come to appreciate and benefit from the visionary leadership of the O’Farrell, Baird and Berejiklian Liberal State Governments imo.
Dex
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