Western Sydney Soars at Airport City Summit

With Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport just weeks from opening, the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue brought together Prime Minister the Hon. Anthony Albanese with leaders in government, business, academia and infrastructure for the third annual Airport City Summit.

More than 400 guests attended the Summit to reflect on the journey to deliver one of Australia’s most significant infrastructure projects, while also looking ahead to the opportunities of the nation’s new global gateway.

Speaking at the Dialogue’s event, the Prime Minister said Western Sydney International (WSI) was much more than Sydney’s second airport.

“This is the first airport for Western Sydney, not just a second airport. It will be the best airport in Australia when it opens on day one,” Mr Albanese said.

“I think this is going to be far more successful than anyone envisages, that in five years’ time…we’ll be talking about how we underestimated how successful it has been.”

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney, the Hon. Prue Car MP, told the summit that the new airport has become a vision for Western Sydney.

“This is going to be a city built around innovation, advanced manufacturing, research and enterprise. A city powered by one of the youngest, most diverse, most talented workforces in the country,” Ms Car said.

The Summit featured a distinguished line-up of speakers, including: Simon Hickey, CEO of Western Sydney International Airport; Karen Jones, CEO of Destination NSW; Clr Ned Mannoun, Mayor of Liverpool; Mike Mrdak AO, Deputy Chair of WSI; Professor Jennifer Westacott AC, Chancellor of Western Sydney University and Chair of the Bradfield Development Authority; and Josh Murray, Secretary of Transport for NSW.

Discussions focused on maximising the global opportunity presented by WSI to capture international investment, expand visitor economies, unlock innovation and position Western Sydney as a hub for advanced manufacturing and logistics.

Leaders also explored how universities, TAFE and industry can work together to ensure local residents are equipped for the high-value, future-focused jobs expected to flow from Sydney’s only 24-hour international airport and the surrounding Aerotropolis.

Dialogue CEO Adam Leto said the once-in-a-generation project would define the region for decades to come.

“This incredible infrastructure will unlock new jobs, create a pipeline of skills and support the growth of both established and emerging industries that will support Western Sydney communities and businesses well into the future,” Mr Leto said.

“Today’s Airport City Summit provided an opportunity to not only reflect on the decades-long advocacy that delivered the airport but also look ahead to the next transformative projects for the region, led by High Speed Rail.”

At the event, Chairman Christopher Brown AM outlined the Dialogue’s proposal for the Newcastle to Sydney HSR to have Parramatta as its primary destination, as opposed to Central Station. The Dialogue’s modelling shows this approach would slash at least $15 billion off the cost of the project, be delivered at least two years earlier, and better reflect the city’s demographic and economic future.

“We call on the Prime Minister to direct the HSRA board to spend the allocated $660 million for the scoping report to be broadened to include the viability of both options to determine which approach is best – not just for the West but the whole of NSW and beyond,” Mr Brown said.

“Decisions made today will inform how Sydney moves, grows and connects for generations. This is a project decades in the making and one that will impact us for many years to come. We can’t afford to get this wrong.”