Super Airport Precinct Ready for Take-Off in the West

Plans to develop a new “Superlot” and construction starting on the Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) Business Precinct were today unveiled at the first Airport City Summit.

More than 450 delegates from business, industry and the community attended the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue’s inaugural summit, which marked 1,000 days until Sydney’s first 24-hour international airport opens for business.

Held 10 years since Badgerys Creek was named as the site for WSI, key summit speakers included Catherine King, Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport & Regional Development, and Paul Scully, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces.

Dialogue CEO, Adam Leto, said the nation’s first major city in over a century put Greater Western Sydney on the brink of generational transformation.

“WSI and Bradfield City offer our region opportunities on a global scale. Today’s announcements boost the precinct’s potential to drive billions of dollars in infrastructure investment, open up new land-use opportunities and attract new industries to the area,” Mr Leto said.

“The region has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow jobs, provide housing and attract investment that will support local businesses, drive innovation and build a strong economy.

“Realising these opportunities requires industry attraction, skills development and employment creation to come together. It’s critical that we now build on the momentum the airport opening delivers and unlock our region’s unlimited potential.”

Federal Minister Catherine King told the summit the WSI business precinct will generate economic activity, provide long-term employment closer to home for the people of Sydney’s west, and meet the state’s growing aviation needs.

“I’m thrilled to be marking the start of construction on the business precinct at Western Sydney’s new airport, which will support thousands of jobs and unlock countless opportunities for this growing Sydney region,” Minister King said.

“The business precinct is a unique opportunity for the airport to service the region’s significant construction workforce, before evolving to meet the needs of airport users and the local community over time. By 2063, WSI is expected to increase value-add in the Australian economy by $5.8 billion per year.”

Announcing the Expression of Interest to appoint a development partner for Superlot Number One, Minister Scully said the development would have space for homes, business, parks and shops at Bradfield City Centre.

“Just a stone’s throw away from the Bradfield metro, this is the first opportunity for the private sector to get involved as a flagship partner in the development of the new city,” Minister Scully said.

“As we approach the final stage of the airport construction, we are prioritising transport access and land releases. This is a huge opportunity to become a major player in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.”

The Airport City Summit explored the key investment, transport, infrastructure, industry attraction and job opportunities the once-in-a-generation major infrastructure project can deliver for the region. Other key speakers included:

• Jennifer Westacott AO, Chair of Western Parkland City Authority (WPCA) and Chancellor of Western Sydney University
• Simon Hickey, CEO, WSI
• Kiersten Fishburn, Secretary of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
• Geoff Roberts AM, Deputy Chair of Western Parkland City Authority.

The Chair of WPCA told the Summit that the Bradfield Superlot will include space for up to 1,000 homes, up to 16 buildings, commercial, childcare, education, research facilities and retail.

“By 2030, a substantial city will be starting to take place, this demonstrates the value of getting the planning right,” Ms Westacott said.

“Bradfield and the area around the airport are ready to be the focus of new industries and new jobs. The new airport is our most significant and direct link to the lucrative markets across the world.”

The WSI CEO told the summit the airport’s socioeconomic benefits for the diverse communities across the west would be significant.

“WSI supports the vision for Bradfield as a new metropolitan city entre and global hub of industry and innovation,” Mr Hickey said.

“Along with the Airport, it will drive broader growth of the Aerotropolis. People across the West are hungry for these opportunities.”