Confusion over planning process of Western Sydney’s new city, Bradfield

The development of Western Sydney’s new airport city, Bradfield, has been described as such a “schmozzle” builders and developers fear it may never be built.

Builders and developers are so concerned at the confusion and red tape surrounding the new airport city of Bradfield that they fear it may never be built.

“You hear this thing is bigger than Ben Hur and you want to be involved but it is very difficult to do that because it is not clear who is responsible for what,” RPS consultancy director Roddy Adams said.

“It is a schmozzle. You have the Western Sydney Parkland City Authority, the state government, councils, it is all a big muddle.”

An artist’s impression of the new Bradfield City Centre.

And instead of pumping money into Western Sydney he said investors with mobile capital he had been talking to were taking their cash to overseas projects that were more accessible.

“Overseas they are offering one bespoke authority with a clear marketing strategy for investors,” Mr Adams said. “I thought that was what the WSPC Authority was supposed to be doing but I am not seeing any evidence of that.”

His concerns were echoed by Tom Forrest the chief executive of The Urban Taskforce who said: “The property development sector and the business community are sick of announcements about the development and potential for Western Sydney. We need clear direction from one point of authority.”

Construction has already started on the passenger terminal for the new Western Sydney (Nancy Bird-Walton) Airport at Badgerys Creek. Picture: Supplied

He said there was no clarity around what infrastructure will be delivered, by whom, at what cost and when.

“Rather than having to negotiate a labyrinth of bureaucracy which makes success about as likely as getting to the end of a snakes and ladders board game, we need a single big ladder with a clear blueprint and funding to deliver infrastructure and show a clear pathway through the planning system,” Mr Forrest said.

An artist’s impressions of the new Bradfield City Centre.

Ross Grove, Western Sydney Director of the Property Council of Australia, said frustrated developers still did not know the price of the land they were looking to build on.

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity we can’t afford to squander with global organisations and capital wanting to invest and locate themselves in our region,” he said.

“But there are open questions around the pricing of land and therefore what footprints and allotments are available – planning packages need to be progressed to provide this investment certainty.”

Jennifer Westacott, Chair of the Western Parkland City Authority, rejected the criticisms and said: “This project is already transforming Western Sydney and the entire state, setting us up for new jobs with the new skills and new industries needed to secure our future.”

She said the Authority was the principle co-ordinating authority and was “working hand in glove” with “governments of all levels, local communities, businesses and agencies” to deliver the giant project.

“Our focus is on helping co-ordinate the infrastructure, attract the new investment and skilling up workers for the new jobs,” Ms Westacott said.

“The geographic scale of the Western Parkland City, the Aerotropolis and two of its key precincts, the Bradfield City Centre and agribusiness precinct is monumental and the investment task is mammoth.

“These projects build on the region’s existing strengths in manufacturing, agribusinesses and education, and leverage the huge decisions the NSW Government has already made to drive job creation across Western Sydney,” she said.