The ‘dying’ Sydney suburb: Luddenham residents suffer from lack of clarity over western Sydney airport

Residents of a western Sydney village believe their suburb is going to die as they wait for bureaucrats to draw lines on a map, in the latest example of the go-slow striking Sydney’s new airport.

Residents of a western Sydney town feel as though their community is dying as they wait for bureaucrats to draw lines on a map, in the latest ­example of developmental delays plaguing the so called “aerotropolis”.

Just two years out from the opening of the new airport at Badgerys Creek, the locals in Luddenham still have no idea what they’ll be permitted to do on their properties as they await the state government’s rezoning of their town.

The Telegraph can reveal that almost a year after the Minns government made an election promise to prioritise rezoning the precinct, anxious locals are still waiting for answers – and they point to plummeting school enrolment num­bers as proof of a mass exodus.

The state government says it cannot rezone the village until the federal government finalises the flight paths surrounding the western Sydney airport, citing the potential impacts of noise.

Luddenham residents Glen and Linda Marsden. They worry about the future of their suburb given the lack of clarity over its future rezoning. Picture: John Appleyard

But with no date set for the new flight paths, Luddenham residents continue to face an agonising wait.

“Every day this decision is delayed is jeopardising the village’s future. The community has lost faith in the government’s election promise to finalise the plans for the village and people are starting to leave,” said Wayne Willmington, vice-president of the Luddenham Progress Association.

“For the first time in a gen­eration, Luddenham Public School will go down to just two classrooms.”

State opposition planning spokesman Scott Farlow said “there’s no excuse for government sitting on their hands with the airport opening in two years”.

“The residents and property owners of Luddenham deserve certainty in what they can do with their property, and they shouldn’t be held captive with the political battle between the state and federal government,” he said, adding: “It’s time for the state government to get on with the job.”

Western Sydney International Airport is due to open in 2026. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The Telegraph has revealed in recent weeks the government department responsible for delivering the aerotropolis has started work only on a new visitor centre, despite receiving more than $500m in grants, while staff numbers at the department – the Western Parkland City Authority – have almost doubled over three years. Under the federal government’s flight paths plan, which is now open for community feedback, Luddenham could have up to 99 flights a day by 2033 registering up to 60 decibels – equivalent to the sound of a conversation and considered the threshold for what can be slept through.

Mr Willmington said Luddenham remained a “black hole” as the only area in the aerotropolis yet to have its ­zoning finalised.

“For the village and the community to survive, it needs people,” Mr Willmington said.

The Department of Education confirmed Luddenham Public School would go from three to two classes in 2024, citing declining enrolments, with just 45 students last year.

Luddenham resident Glen Marsden said locals were in limbo and couldn’t even add a granny flat or do an extension until the guidelines were set.

“At the moment, it’s sitting stagnant – everyone’s waiting for finality so they can move forward with some certainty,” he said