Construction officially begins at second Sydney airport

Scott Morrison turned up to personally begin construction at Sydney’s second airport, 50 years since speculation about it began.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison poses on a construction vehicle after giving the order for work to commence on the Western Sydney airport. Picture: Getty Images

Construction at Sydney’s second airport has begun after 50 years of speculation as Prime Minister Scott Morrison personally “turned the first sod”.

The construction of the Badgerys Creek airport will create a forecasted 11,000 jobs and an additional 28,000 jobs over the first five years of the airport being up and running.

A 10 per cent diversity target will be applied to the workforce, including a target of 2.4 per cent for indigenous staff.

Mr Morrison said it was a “tremendously exciting day”, as he spoke to reporters at Badgerys Creek.

“Welcome to the future of Sydney.” He said. “This is a project that will determine the future of this city.”

Minister Alan Tudge, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister Stuart Ayres pictured at Badgerys Creek to launch the start of digging for the construction of the Western Sydney Airport site. Picture: Richard Dobson

The airport’s construction will require levelling 1.8 million m3 of earth, with ground height levels varying up to 40 metres.

Scott Morrison climbed onto a dark yellow Cat scraper as work began, remarking, “what a big unit,” after he had disembarked.

The airport is expected cater to up to 10 million passengers per year when it opens in 2026. By 2060, this number will grow to 80 million passengers a year.

The airport will open with only one runway with a second runway expected to be needed by the 2050s.

Major earthworks are set to begin next year.