Aerotropolis draws new investment to western Sydney

Sydney Markets and Hitachi are the two latest businesses to announce investments in the western Sydney Aerotropolis.

An artists rendering of the Aerotropolis, which is a 10,000-hectare economic zone where the government says 200,000 people will be employed.

• New university hub announced for Aerotropolis
• Northern Gateway City plans for Western Sydney Aerotropolis

Sydney Markets and Hitachi are the two latest businesses to announce investments in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

The signing of memorandums of understanding with both companies follows a string of high profile businesses flooding into the region, including multinationals and universities.

It is unclear if Sydney Markets will open another base of operations or move entirely to the Aerotropolis, a 10,000-hectare economic zone anticipated to create 200,000 jobs.

Sydney Markets Chairman John Pearson said time will tell.

The announcements were made by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Image: Jordan Shields

“Whilst we are at an early stage in this longer term journey with specific sites to be defined, the opportunity for Sydney Markets to be an anchor brand in the western city should not be underestimated,” he said.

The signing of Hitachi solidifies the region’s appeal to Japanese technology giants, as it follows recently announced partnerships with Mitsubishi Heavy and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group.

Concept images of the aerotropolis and the Western Sydney Airport. Picture: Arterra Interactive

Hitachi employs 307,000 people globally — 3600 in Australia — and in the last financial year it generated $88 billion in revenue, from industries as varied as technology, defence, healthcare and more.

Meanwhile, Western Sydney Airport has appointed a company to help ensure Badgerys Creek Airport is a ‘smart airport’.

Chief executive Graham Millett announced Arup has been commissioned to make sure the airport’s technology infrastructure is future-proof.

“We’re planning for a 5G network across the airport site and planning needs to consider opportunities for 5G technologies to improve operations,” he said.

The announcements come after four major Australian universities agreed to create an Aerospace, Engineering and science Innovation Hub together in September.