It’s all systems go-go-go for Badgerys Creek airport lift-off

The original sod-turning for Badgerys Creek airport was in 1992; yesterday Scott Morrison was in launch mode.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Badgerys Creek to launch the start of digging for the construction of the Western Sydney Airport. Picture: Richard Dobson

As he stood in a paddock on the western outskirts of Sydney holding a two-way radio before assembled media, Scott Morrison was promising it would be second-time lucky for Badgerys Creek airport.

The Prime Minister spoke into the two-way to a driver named Trevor and a giant piece of earthmoving equipment sprang into ­action in a symbolic start to the 1.8 million cubic metres of earth that will be moved to build Sydney’s second airport.

At the original sod-turning for Badgerys Creek in 1992, then aviation minister Bob Collins had a more low-tech approach, ditching the hi-viz vest for a black suit and sporting a simple shovel.

Twenty-six years later, Mr Morrison was fending off questions about what had taken so long. “Because frankly, people kept kicking it down the road for too long and our government didn’t,” he said.

He noted that talk about a second airport in the nation’s biggest city was older than he was.

“This is actually now finally happening.” he said. “I mean, this issue has been around longer than I have been living on the planet.”

Warren Truss with Macarthur MP Russell Matheson in 2015. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The Prime Minister then took a cheeky jab at baby boomers. “And you know, it’s great to see this happening.” he said. “Maybe it took a gen-Xer to finally get us there.”

Badgerys Creek airport, which is scheduled to start operations in 2026, will create an estimated 11,000 jobs during construction, with one-third of the staff to come from western Sydney.

Once it is up and running, it is expected to employ 28,000 staff over five years, with half the workforce comprising locals.

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

The airport will service domestic, international and regional flights as well as catering to freight services.

Bob Collins in 1992.

Qantas and Virgin have committed to flying from the airport.

With ground-height levels varying up to 40m, the earthworks, which will begin in earnest next year, will move the equivalent of 720 Olympic swimming pools of soil.

The idea for a second airport was first floated in April 1964 and Badgerys Creek was first touted as a potential location in January 1969.

Since 1972, the government has undertaken about 60 reports concerning the viability and necessity of a second Sydney airport.

Bob Hawke declared the site the home to Sydney’s new airport in 1989.

Three years ago, then deputy prime minister Warren Truss declared all systems go for the project while standing in a wet paddock.

When he was asked at the time if he were confident the airport would go ahead, he said: “I am confident, very confident.”

In contrast, John Wagner and his millionaire brothers built the $200 million Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport in 19 months.