Western Sydney Aerotropolis: NSW Government to acquire $422m in land

The NSW Government has already spent almost $300m to acquire properties at the site of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. Find out which sites are next and what price they’ll pay for your land.

A massive $297.5 million has been spent by the NSW Government in property acquisition fees for infrastructure projects surrounding the Western Sydney Aerotropolis between 2018 and 2021.

And government documents have forecasted an extra $124.677 million could be spent in the next financial year.

Properties in Orchard Hills, Luddenham, Kemps Creek and Badgerys Creek have been acquired for infrastructure works like the M12, Outer Sydney Orbital, Sydney Metro, and other major projects for a total acquisition price of $422 million.

The NSW Government has revealed it is preparing to acquire $422 million worth of land for infrastructure and other projects at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

Newly released documents can reveal the exact cost the government is being advised to pay for private land proposed for Environment and Recreational zones within the future city.

Property owners on land currently zoned for infrastructure, environmental, and conservation precincts could be offered as little as $20 per square metre for their land.

Meanwhile, the NSW Government was advised to pay up to $450 per sq m for land zoned for mixed-use residential and commercial sites, between $250 to $300 for agribusiness, $300 to $350 for enterprise and $130 to $180 for special activity zones.

NSW Planning’s Strategic Lands transaction manager, Jenny Byrnes told the Planning Department it was “imperative” that the government “adequately compensate all disposed

landowners and registered interests in land that are proposed to be zoned environment and

recreation within the Western Sydney Aerotropolis”.

Artist's impressions of the future Western Sydney Aerotropolis - Sydney's 'third city'. Picture: NSW Government.

“The current assessed rates in this report are based on the overall anticipated likely alternate zoning for the land identified within the Western Sydney Aerotropolis Plan.

The documents also revealed projections that 76 properties will be acquired by the government, including 58 private, four federally-owned and 14 sites owned by the Western Sydney Parklands Trust.

Following a Freedom of Information request issued last year, Transport for NSW revealed a total of $154.7 million had been spent to acquire 35 properties — just for road projects — as of October, 2020.

Outer Sydney Orbital

The Western Sydney Aerotropolis is a multibillion-dollar masterplan to create a bustling city for 200,000 workers in five different precinct surrounding the new airport at Badgerys Creek.

Blueprints for the plans are currently on exhibition with the NSW Planning.

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue executive director Adam Leto said while securing public open space, service and utility corridors was important, it “needs to be balanced against the role some of these areas could play in driving economic growth”.

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue Executive Director, Adam Leto. Picture: Richard Dobson

“It would be a real shame if some of the zoning plans currently being considered for the Aerotropolis sterilised the future commercial viability of these sites, particularly those which have strong links to education, research and industry,” Mr Leto said.

While Shadow Western Sydney spokesman Greg Warren accused the government of “ripping properties from under residents’ feet without explanation”.

“If this government is going to take people’s property, they need to be clear and concise and explain exactly why that land is needed,” he said. “But that hasn’t happened.”

Transport for NSW and the NSW Planning Department were contacted for comment.