Plan for ‘24-hour employment hub’ released for Aerotropolis
The Western Sydney Aerotropolis draft plan reveals new details and imagery of the project - and shows which residents can expect to be impacted most by aircraft noise.
Penrith
Don't miss out on the headlines from Penrith. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A bid to plan for a 24-hour economic powerhouse at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis has been revealed by the State Government today as they released suburbs that will experience noise exposure.
The Aerotropolis draft plan — released to the public for comment today — earmarked the region as a nationally-significant economic and employment hub for defence and aerospace industries, advanced manufacturing, agribusiness and health and research specialisation.
“It will be an accessible, innovative and connected city,” the report said. “Its evolution will catalyse a jobs dense environment nurturing industry of the future.
“It will help to boost productivity and contribute to significant jobs growth in western Sydney.”
The plan also proposed the creation of an “innovative 24-hour metropolitan centre” with a series of civic spaces and infrastructure projects including regional parks and a “blue-green grid” providing bushland parks and waterways throughout the aerotropolis.
The plans also expose noise exposure expected from indicative flight paths surrounding the Western Sydney Airport with the State Government issuing a series of safeguards to protect the $5.3 billion investment.
Significant noise exposure is expected between Lake Burragorang and Gulguer Nature Reserve in the Blue Mountains to the southwest of the airport and the Western Sydney Regional Park at Prospect to the northeast.
However, the plans did not release further flight paths to be implemented — sparking ongoing concern from Blue Mountains Mayor, Mark Greenhill and his residents.
“Enough is enough — this hints at what we have suspected,” Cr Greenhill told the Penrith Press.
“We have a noise horror story that will impact our region and they need to come clean about flight paths so that the community can have a say.”
Mr Greenhill said 2021 was “too late” for the government to release the plans.
“This is the thing people are most concerned about and the government keeps avoiding it.”
The report said planning safeguards will prevent the approval of development that will “impact upon aviation operations of the airport”.
“Planning to safeguard the 24/7 operations include preventing the encroachment of noise-sensitive land uses into areas affected by aircraft noise and operational airspace,” the report said.
Planning will also restrict the location of light to prevent the creation of distractions to pilots and managing wildlife attraction.
MORE FROM THE AEROTROPOLIS
CAMPAIGN TO ESTABLISH GLOBAL FOOD BOWL WITH AEROTROPOLIS
METRO MAP FORECASTS SYDNEY’S FUTURE DRIVERLESS NETWORK
PLANNERS, ARCHITECTS BLUEPRINT WESTERN SYDNEY AEROTROPOLIS
THE HILLS, SCHOFIELDS TO BE LINKED TO AEROTROPOLIS
NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes and Western Sydney Minister Stuart Ayres released the plan for public exhibition, forecasting a bustling economic hub, thousands of homes and major transport infrastructure projects including road and rail corridors.
“With construction of the airport underway, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a brand new city, and we want the community to be part of the process,” Mr Stokes said.
Mr Ayres said the Aerotropolis will feature more than 200,000 new jobs, with 17 global and regional partners ready to move in.
The plans will be on exhibition until February 28 before rezoning reviews are finalised by mid next year.