Badgerys Creek: The Labor MPs trying to stop our second airport taking off
THESE four shortsighted federal Labor MPs were elected to fight for Western Sydney but are instead actively threatening tens of thousands of jobs and a multi-billion dollar economic windfall for the state.
NSW
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THESE four Labor MPs claim they are fighting for Western Sydney — yet they are out to destroy tens of thousands of jobs and put the economy back billions of dollars.
The shortsighted politicians — Ed Husic, Emma Husar, Susan Templeman and Doug Cameron — claim they are being “cheated” and “conned” by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s decision to build a second airport in Western Sydney.
This is despite the fact it will create 60,000 jobs and provide a $205 million-a-year boost to the Australian economy.
Ignoring their constituents’ desperate need for job security, the Labor MPs have objected to the Prime Minister’s historic move yesterday to authorise construction of a major airport at Badgerys Creek.
Mr Turnbull yesterday ended 50 years of debate and indecision by signing off on the plans for the Western Sydney Airport.
The airport’s first runway will open in the mid-2020s and will service 10 million passengers each year.
A second runway would open closer to 2050.
Mr Turnbull said it would be a “massive contributor to our national economy” while making life easier for the two million people who live closer to Badgerys Creek than Sydney Airport at Mascot.
“This is a critical element of our focus on ensuring strong economic growth and strong jobs growth right across the nation, but in particular here in Western Sydney,” Mr Turnbull said.
“We are in a situation where this airport is needed. It will drive jobs. It will drive investment. It will drive industry. It will drive technology.”
Figures show by 2060, the new airport will have created 60,000 direct jobs and 30,000 indirect jobs across Western Sydney.
Official Labor policy is to support the second airport at Western Sydney, with infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten expressing their support for it — conditional on limited noise impact to residents.
But a group of rogue Labor MPs has attacked Mr Turnbull over his decision to approve Badgerys Creek.
“It’s a bitter farce and the people of Western Sydney have a right to feel conned and cheated by the actions of this Liberal government,” Labor MP for Lindsay, Emma Husar, yesterday said.
“They’re green-lighting a massive project that has no local jobs plan, no commitment to build rail, no detail on flight paths and noise mitigation, and the necessary site impact tests haven’t even been completed.”
Labor senator Doug Cameron has told Parliament “the proposed Badgerys Creek Airport is not environmentally or socially acceptable” while Macquarie Labor MP Susan Templeman said Western Sydney people had been “betrayed” by the government’s plans for 24/7 flight paths.
NON-STOP FLIGHT FROM PERTH TO LONDON COMING IN 2018
“Western Sydney and Blue Mountains are left being treated as second-class citizens compared to people in the east and north of Sydney, with no restrictions on the number of planes that can fly over their homes day and night,” she said.
“The minister has approved the airport without any serious air quality studies or analysis of the potential noise impacts on communities, schools and individuals.”
Chifley MP Ed Husic is also objecting, claiming Mr Turnbull’s plan to build the airport meant he saw Western Sydney residents as “second-class citizens”.
He refused to comment yesterday but has previously issued press releases condemning the federal government’s airport plans.
BADGERYS CREEK FINALLY TAKING OFF 50 YEARS ON
“We are worst affected by cuts to schools, hospitals and other budget cuts. Insultingly, other Western Sydney infrastructure needs go begging while the eastern suburbs give us money for projects they think are important, like 24 hours a day airports,” he said last year.
The Western Sydney Airport will be the biggest infrastructure investment the region has seen and will lead to new road and rail networks, an increase in tourism, new businesses to service the airport, an increase in worker productivity and household income. It will inject $205 million a year into the Australian economy and transform the socio-economic demographic of Western Sydney.
Mr Turnbull said it was “disappointing” some Labor MPs were trying to hinder the airport’s development.
“It appears these MPs are putting their short-term political interests ahead of the economic interests of the region. (Opposition Leader Bill Shorten) must explain whether Labor supports investment in Western Sydney or seeks to stymie it,” he said.
Virgin Australia Group chief executive John Borghetti said his organisation had “always been supportive of a second Sydney airport”. “We’re very pleased the government has given the go-ahead for Badgerys Creek,” Mr Borghetti said. “We look forward to working with government and other stakeholders on realising the potential of the airport for the benefit of travellers and the community at large.”
Qantas, a long-time supporter of a second airport, said it looked forward to “continuing to be part of the process”.
“It’s important that the new airport be appropriately funded, free from operational constraints, and built to the right size — with the capacity to expand,” a spokeswoman said. Sydney Airport Corporation is eager to operate Badgerys Creek and will soon begin negotiations on terms and conditions.
NO CURFEW IS CRUCIAL TO SUCCESS
Sharri Markson
THERE will be up to five flights an hour between 10pm and 7am at Sydney’s second airport.
It comes as Australia’s leading airline bosses said planes must be able to fly during the night if the airport at Badgerys Creek was to succeed.
Yet Labor is still preparing to steps up its fight against night-time flights.
Noise exposure maps show only a small number of Sydney suburbs will be impacted by aircraft noise from the site’s first runway — which opens in the mid 2020s.
The government’s Environmental Impact Statement estimated there would be up to five flights an hour from 10pm-7am.
The biggest impact would be in the suburbs of Greendale, Luddenham and Twin Creeks, with a lower impact in the surrounding areas of Silverdale, Greendale, Kemps reek and Mount Vernon.
Airports in most global cities operate during the night. Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport has an 11pm curfew.
Virgin Australia Group chief executive John Borghetti said “several factors will be integral” to the airport’s success — including “no curfew”.
A Qantas Group spokeswoman said it was important the new airport was “free from operational constraints”.
“We look forward to continuing to be part of the process.”
BUDGET SURPLUS TO BUST CONGESTION
Andrew Clennell
State Political Editor
HUNDREDS of millions of dollars will be pumped into busting congestion across Sydney as the Baird government puts its foot down on infrastructure spending to get the city moving.
The government will use today’s midyear economic review to announce $2 billion in new funding for infrastructure projects — including spending on smart motorways and for pinch point and clearways projects to ease congestion.
Using the proceeds from the $16 billion Ausgrid sale, Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian will also bring forward hundreds of millions for regional health services and planning money for the new upgraded ANZ stadium at Homebush. This 2016-17 surplus of $3.96 billion is up from the $3.7 billion forecast. Over the next four years, surpluses will average $1.8 billion.
Part of the reason for the decrease in surpluses is an anticipated fall in stamp duty.
Projections to be released today have stamp duty growth decreasing from a peak of 40 per cent in 2013-14 to 13 per cent in 2015-16 to “4-5 per cent” over forward estimates. The projections point to NSW Treasury believing the heat is coming out of the housing market. Treasury had expected to reap $9.124 billion from residential and commercial stamp duty in 2017-18 and $9.445 billion in 2018-19.
The government will bring forward $400 million for “Smart Motorways” with the M4, also known as “managed motorways”, using technologies to monitor traffic conditions, manage congestion and respond to incidents.
The project will connect with the WestConnex project at Mays Hill. There will also be $393 million for the delivery of $400 million Pinch Points and Clearways program ($7 million has previously been allocated for planning).
There will also be $276.5 million for the Urban Roads Pinch Points Program on 32 key corridors across Sydney. These include projects at Hoxton Park Road at Hill Road, Lurnea and Pacific Highway and Mona Vale Road, Pymble.
There is also $23.5 million for the Hunter Roads Pinch Point Program.
The government will also provide a $100 million expansion to the Sydney Clearways program
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