Airport property bonanza unleashed but ‘dying’ town left behind

A property-buying bonanza is predicted for land around Western Sydney International Airport, but Luddenham, a tiny town on the fringes of the runway, has been left in limbo – again.

Residents living in the “town that doesn’t want to die” have blown up after being told their future will remain in limbo for at least another year.

But while the historic farming village of Luddenham will remain stuck in time, many landowners will welcome planning law changes announced Friday that will see the value of their properties retained and an explosion in property sales.

Luddenham is at the centre of the planned agribusiness precinct that the federal government hopes will drive jobs and investment around the new Western Sydney International Airport.

Yet their hopes of having the town thrive with new residential development were dealt another blow Friday, after the NSW Government again delayed a decision on the suburb.

The town remains frozen in time, with landowners subject to a development ban.

The delay was driven by Western Sydney Airport Co, the body appointed by the federal government to deliver the $11 billion airport.

Badgerys Creek in 2021.

The Sunday Telegraph revealed last month that WSA Co objected to residential development in the village, established in 1813, saying aircraft noise could impact future development.

This was despite Liverpool and Penrith councils, both local federal members and all three local State MPs agreeing that new homes should be allowed – thus ensuring the town’s population doesn’t continue to dwindle.

“We are incredibly disappointed that everything else around the airport appears finalised except for our town,” Luddenham Progress Association president Wayne Willmington said.

“We keep on being trodden on.

“The amount of people suffering mental anguish about this keeps on increasing, with a specialist counsellor recently appointed to deal with residents.”

The Northern Road at Luddenham.

Mr Willmington said WSA Co has made no objection to the residential development of government-owned land at Bradfield, which is located on the other side of the airport perpendicular to the incoming runways.

“It just seems wrong that the government land gets the green light while we get the red light,” he said.

WSA Co did not respond to requests for comment.

Rob Knox, whose family have been in Luddenham since 1860, said “people here can’t retire and move on or build because of this mess. It needs to be fixed.”

Rob Knox and his wife Anna at their business, David's Stall Fruit Shop, which has been run by Rob's family for more than 100 years. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Mulgoa Liberal MP Tanya Davies said the final noise contours need to be released by the federal government.

“The community wants to work with WSA to better understand the basis for its objections, which simply do not seem to make any sense and are inconsistent with its position taken for other similar areas within the Aerotropolis,” she told parliament on Thursday.

“I encourage WSA to re‑engage with the Luddenham community on this critical issue, so that both parties can understand the perspectives, wishes and concerns each other hold and thereby be able to work more collaboratively to reach an agreed position.”

On Friday the NSW Government released the final Precinct Plan – laying the foundation for the transformation of 6500ha of land.

The 11,200ha size of the airport and future surrounding city is roughly the size of eastern Sydney – from Rose Bay to Little Bay, Leichhardt to Kogarah.

The final precinct plan is expected to be welcomed by hundreds of landowners around the airport because their land will not be rezoned to a less valuable price.

Instead – in a move that will cost the government hundreds of millions of dollars – land has been marked with an “overlay”.

This overlay prevents land being dipped in price – regardless of whether it is marked as agribusiness, stormwater or industrial.

Badgerys Creek real estate agent Chris Brophy.

Badgerys Creek Property owner and real estate agent Chris Brophy said Friday’s plans “have fired the gun on property sales in the area”.

“We now know where all the roads will be and so buyers from Friday have had more confidence,” he said.

“Landowners previously needed a minimum lot size of 5ha to submit a development application, whereas now that has been reduced to 2ha.

“This now means smaller players can start buying up land and developing.”