NSW Fire Rescue, RFS commissioners warn of increased traffic crashes, fire emergencies as roads swamped with airport traffic

The state’s top firefighting chiefs have sounded the alarm over delays in the completion of new transport infrastructure for Sydney’s newest airport with fears an influx of trucks and traffic will be forced on to existing narrow roads – leading to a spike in traffic crashes and fire emergencies.

The state’s top firefighting chiefs have sounded the alarm over delays in the completion of new transport infrastructure for Sydney’s newest airport with fears an influx of trucks and traffic will be forced on to existing narrow roads – leading to a spike in traffic crashes and fire emergencies.

Fire and Rescue NSW commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell and NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Rob Rogers have signed a joint letter raising concerns over a lack of new infrastructure in the city’s west ahead of the grand opening of the Western Sydney Airport in 2026.

The commissioners noted current road infrastructure upgrades are underway but warned “not all affected routes are likely to be upgraded prior to the major influx of traffic” – therefore “increasing the likelihood of serious motor vehicle accidents on roads not suitable to the increased volumes.”

There are also concerns about the capability of emergency services to respond to serious incidents including a lack of reticulated water supply on the M12 motorway, which is still under construction to the airport.

The capability gap means firefighting crews would have to rely on fire trucks “ferrying water in a timely manner to any fire on the motorway.”

NSW Fire and Rescue Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell. Picture: Tim Hunter.

It is expected up to 10 million passengers per year will use the airport while the surrounding Aerotropolis is expected to create up to 200,000 jobs – substantially increasing the amount of traffic in surrounding suburbs.

In recent months, there has been heightened concerns the airport will open without adequate road infrastructure in place.

Concerns been exacerbated by a $15 million Federal Government funding cut to upgrade roads around the new Western Sydney Airport including Eastern Ring Rd, Luddenham Rd, Fifteenth Ave (West), Devonshire Rd and Badgerys Creek Rd.

There are fears local roads including Luddenham Rd will be swamped by traffic when the new airport opens in 2026.

Along with an influx of cars and trucks, the airport is also expected to see heavy vehicles using surrounding roads to transport fuel supplies to the new airport.

“This will include the movement of aviation fuel by trucks on average once every 40 minutes as well as general freight operators and significant industrial and logistics businesses that will continue to set up around the wider precinct,," the commissioners said.

“Construction work vehicle’s for both transport and general building works will also add to the complexities of the area for a considerable time into the future.

The airport is due to open in just two years’ time.

“There is also an emerging increase of electric and alternate fuel vehicles on our roads which is will also add to the complexities of the operating environment we will be jointly working within.”

Camden Council says the timing for delivery of new public transport infrastructure should be prioritised by the NSW and federal governments “as a matter of urgency”

Both firefighting organisations are currently working on a service delivery plan to provide required resourcing to the airport precinct however warned “there is yet to be a commitment for suitable additional firefighting and rescue resources across the precinct for both services”.

Rob Rogers, commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Modelling by Fire and Rescue NSW predicts five new stations will be needed to be “enhanced” to service the Aerotropolis region while six stations will be needed for the Rural Fire Services equipped with aerial, hazmat, bulk water and urban type appliances.

The NSW Government said “significant work is underway” to provide required infrastructure for the airport but recognised “there is a lot of work ahead”.

The government said public and active transport connections could also give people a “choice around how and when they travel, with less reliance on cars”.

The warning by the fire commissioners comes after The Daily Telegraph last week revealed western Sydney roads surpassed Sydney CBD as the area causing the most grief to drivers, with southwest Sydney coming a close third.

Locals fear traffic will worsen as Western Sydney Airport opens, with some roads still single-lane despite rapid development.

A Transport for NSW spokesman said the department has a 30-year plan for delivering the transport network in the Airport Precinct in line with growth.

“Planning work will inform investment decisions for further transport infrastructure to be delivered in stages as demand across the Airport Precinct grows,” he said.

He said the department and Sydney Water have also identified water hydrants adjacent to the M12 Motorway corridor that will be available for emergency management.