Aerotropolis needs to win back foreign investors with progress, new infrastructure chief says

A joint press conference outling new changes aimed at kick starting Sydney’s floundering aerotropolis precinct ended after less than 17 minutes of questions when PM Anthony Albanese hustled accompanying hard hatted MPs away.

Exclusive: The new chief tasked with kicking Western Sydney Airport’s floundering aerotropolis precinct into gear says he needs to win back the trust of foreign investors, as Premier Chris Minns ­labelled the previous authority tasked with the job as “not fit for purpose”.

Infrastructure NSW, headed by co-ordinator-general Tom Gellibrand, was unveiled on Wednesday as the lead agency for getting new homes, sewage systems and roads built around the Western Sydney Airport.

At the same time, the organisation previously tasked with that job – the Western Parkland City Authority (WPCA) – was renamed, had its responsibilities cut, and got a new CEO in former Property Council boss Ken Morrison.

Mr Gellibrand told The Daily Telegraph his first priority would be a “sector plan” which will identify which major roads and infrastructure need to be built and when, with the aim to have that completed by the end of the year.

He said he had already identified two major projects as priorities – the upgrades of Mamre Rd and Elizabeth Drive.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with NSW Premier Chris Minns at the construction site of one of the new Western Sydney Aerotropolis construction sites. Picture: John Appleyard

The Daily Telegraph ­previously revealed concerns over the Mamre Rd precinct, headlined by global delivery giant Amazon pulling out of establishing a warehouse there due to the lack of progress on the industrial hub.

“That’s the heart of the issue for developers and investors at the moment – they’re keen on investing in Mamre Rd (but) the place is developing too slowly,” Mr Gellibrand said.

Elizabeth Drive was also a “really important upgrade that needs to be done” due to it being a key route for trucks transporting fuel to aeroplanes at the new airport, Mr Gellibrand said.

The Telegraph revealed late last year that scores of major foreign businesses which had signed Memorandums of Understanding with the NSW government to be part of the aerotropolis had raised concerns over its lack of progress – something Mr Gellibrand said had to be addressed.

The new Western Sydney Airport Metro is due to open in 2026 alongside the airport. Picture: NewsWire

“Ken Morrison is the head of the Bradfield Development Authority and I’ll be wanting to work closely with them, because together we need to demonstrate to other parts of the world that this is a great place to do business and if you invest here you’ll get world-class infrastructure and the airport,” he said.

The aerotropolis changes were announced at a joint press conference of state and federal leaders – which ended after less than 17 minutes of questions when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hustled Mr Minns and accompanying MPs away.

NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen, Federal Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King, Member for Werriwa, Anne Stanley, Premier Chris Minns, NSW Minister for planning and Public spaces Paul Scully, Deputy Premier Prue Carr and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese face the media at the construction site of Bradfield station. Picture: NewsWire

Mr Minns said the disbanding of the WPCA came because “it wasn’t fit for purpose”. “And when something’s not working, and you’ve got years of field evidence being reported … something’s got to give,” he said.

NSW Opposition planning spokesman Scott Farlow accused the Premier of wasting a year by not calling in Infrastructure NSW sooner.

“The Premier’s announcement is a case of back to the future, but unlike Marty McFly, Chris Minns doesn’t get to go back in time and has cost the development of the aerotropolis 12 wasted months,” he said.

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