Second airport Badgerys Creek promises to be huge jobs creator for Western Sydney
EXCLUSIVE: WESTERN Sydney Airport will generate a staggering 31,000 construction and operational jobs and make households in the region $44 million a year richer within just 13 years.
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WESTERN Sydney Airport will generate a staggering 31,000 construction and operational jobs and make households in the region $44 million a year richer within just 13 years.
Modelling from Treasury for The Daily Telegraph also predicts a $27 million boost to profits for Western Sydney businesses from the project, which is set to supercharge the national economy by $205 million.
“Because of the proven job generating capacity of airports, we can have a degree of confidence that this airport will generate jobs and jobs that locals overwhelmingly will be best placed to fill,” Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said.
“First of all it needs to work very effectively as an airport — good services and people having choices about where to fly to.
We don’t want Badgerys to be a runway and a paddock. We want to make sure that when we turn the lights on, there’s something happening around it
“But next we want the area around the airport to be a vibrant area of commercial activity, likely to have a range of businesses and institutions, there’s likely to be universities there, there’s likely to be hi-tech businesses there, there’s likely to be facilities to meet the needs of visitors and tourists.”
Crucial to the creation of 4000 jobs at Badgerys Creek after it opens in 2026 will be the business park within the airport precinct.
Another 7000 jobs would spring up around the airport, through invigorated local businesses and new major projects such as the Science Park at Luddenham and potentially a hi-tech manufacturing centre on Sydney University land nearby.
Of the 13,000 jobs created within the airport precinct, 2200 will be office based, 1900 will be technicians and tradies, and 1900 will be emergency workers and flight attendants.
The government’s aim is to emulate some of the best airports in the world, such as Incheon in South Korea and Schiphol in The Netherlands, Mr Fletcher said.
Incheon is surrounded by five international universities and electronics giant Samsung has a hi-tech manufacturing plant there.
Situated around Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is Holland’s huge flower growing industry, as well as a conferencing and office hub.
“The sweet spot for airports is manufacturing, which is high value but not particularly heavy,” Mr Fletcher said.
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He said “there is a lot of working being done” across three levels of government on what sort of jobs would be created, what sort of businesses would be attracted and how best to attract those businesses to Western Sydney Airport.
Global security company Northrop Grumman’s commitment to a $50 million centre at the airport for its defence and aviation electronic component manufacturing is a huge endorsement of the commercial possibilities, Mr Fletcher said.
“Being close to an airport is of considerable value to them but they also expect that there will be a cluster of companies in this industry — the defence and aviation and avionics industries are likely to be attracted to locate near the airport,” Mr Fletcher said.
“Another attraction for them is access to the labour pool of Western Sydney and they expect that by being located there they will be attracting people who see value in having a job that’s closer to home.”
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NSW Western Sydney Minister Stuart Ayres is in no doubt as to the value of the new airport.
“This is a game changing and transformative piece of infrastructure,” Mr Ayres said.
PwC partner John Marinopoulos described the project as “wonderful” but warned planning missteps could hinder its potential.
“You have to plan it properly. You have to create the value in order to capture that value to ensure that everyone gets the benefit as prescribed.” Mr Marinopoulos said
“We don’t want Badgerys to be a runway and a paddock. We want to make sure that when we turn the lights on, there’s something happening around it.”
He said the $3.6 billion being invested in road infrastructure was to be applauded but that it would be “insane” to make road the only means of transport to get there.
“In my opinion rail is mandatory,” Mr Marinopoulos said.
Airport attracts best to west
THE Turnbull government will today fire the starter’s pistol for companies to join the race for contracts to plan and construct the mammoth $5.3-billion Western Sydney Airport project.
The government has already been swamped with interest from the world’s top design, construction and engineering companies who are all desperate to get involved.
And today representatives from 250 firms, including heavy hitters such as CIMIC, Lend Lease, John Holland, Downer and CSR, will attend a meeting hosted by Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher at Penrith Panthers.
He will reveal the specifications for tenders on the lucrative build, which could be awarded as a single contract to a consortium of companies or be broken up into specific projects for which companies can tender. Construction of the airport will create 11,000 jobs and is due for completion in 2026.
The government is investing $5.3 billion in the project via its recently established WSA Co.
“The government’s role in Western Sydney Airport will be as investor, not builder, and WSA Co will recruit and procure the best and brightest to manage the project,” Mr Fletcher said.
“Industry will be approached through multiple competitive tenders to ensure the best deal … is made. The terminal will be a building that reflects the confidence and aspirations of Western Sydney. This is a fantastic opportunity to build an airport people can be proud of.”
There is unlikely to be any clarity today on when and if a rail link to the airport will be part of the project.
A scoping study being undertaken by the NSW and federal governments is set to be completed later this year.
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