Western Sydney Aerotropolis: Taxpayers still forking out more than $500,000 for oversight body

Taxpayers are paying board members of the Western Parkland City Authority, which was effectively abolished after being set up to oversee planning of the aerotropolis. Here’s why

Taxpayers are still forking out more than half-a-million dollars per year to board members of the Western Parkland City Authority even though the independent agency was effectively abolished last year.

The Minns government absorbed the WPCA into the Planning Department in July, as part of a major structural overhaul to cut red tape and streamline planning and ­investment decisions.

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, Premier Chris Minns said the change was required because the WPCA had been doing a “terrible” job in managing the Western Sydney Aerotropolis project at Badgerys Creek.

Mr Minns accused the WPCA of constraining ­prospective investors in “extreme red tape”.

However, despite the WPCA’s staff all being transferred into the Planning Department, the six-member board was retained to “set the direction for the building of Bradfield City and for economic development and investment attraction to the Western Parklands City”.

NSW Premier Chris Minns defended the retention of the board. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Also, while 130 staff have been shifted from the WPCA into the department, their jobs have not changed.

Industry leaders have now called for the agency to be scrapped entirely, saying Mr Minns’ changes only caused more problems.

“The entire board should be abolished, there’s no need for them,” Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest said.

Western Sydney International Airport terminal which is taking shape and due to open in 2026. The aerotropolis, which will provide infras Picture: Jonathan Ng

The board is chaired by businesswoman Jennifer Westacott, who pockets a ­salary of $130,000 per year for her role leading the gutted organisation.

“Why do you have an independent board that reports to the department of planning secretary?” Mr Forrest asked.

The board is chaired by Jennifer Westacott. Picture: Britta Campion

The WPCA commands an operating budget of $24.044m for this financial year.

Mr Minns blamed the former Coalition government for the confusion over who was responsible for planning in relation to the aerotropolis.

“The previous government created an alphabet soup of agencies and corporations that made the entire process extremely difficult,” he said.

“A big job we’ve had over the last 12 months is simplifying some of these big bureaucratic agencies so that it’s clear internally and externally who you’re dealing with.”

However, Mr Minns said he was still “very hopeful” that the aerotropolis would become a “jewel in the crown of Western Sydney”.

“I think everybody should give us a go at fixing up our responsibility when it comes to planning and decision making as well as investment and before they render a judgment on the aerotropolis,” he said.

The failure to secure investment in the aerotropolis was laid bare by The Daily Telegraph last week, when it was revealed tech giant Amazon had pulled out of building a new stock warehouse on the outskirts of Sydney’s new airport. Mr Minns said he has not spoken personally with Amazon, “but the NSW government has”.

“I’m confident that you will see major capital investment from not just Amazon but major tech firms in Western Sydney in the year ahead,” he said.

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