Both the Western Sydney Airport and the Aerotropolis will mean good things for most adjoining land owners.
But for nearly 800 residents who live a stone’s throw from where planes will be landing and taking off 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it could be their worst nightmare.
Located in Bringelly within Greendale Road, The Northern Road and Dwyer Road, 200 owners of around 750 hectares will be in limbo for many years because they have been left out of proposed plans for the aerotropolis that will be established around the airport.
The aerotropolis is seen as a massive jobs circuit breaker for western and south western Sydney, but not for the people who will miss out on the expected bonanza.
These Bringelly residents, many of whom have been living there for decades, are not taking such a prospect lying down.
They have joined forces to create one of the largest land owner groups ever assembled in Greater Sydney, the Southern Gateway Precinct.
They want to be rezoned as one of the “initial’’ aerotropolis precincts, and their land used for employment purposes.
Under the drafts plans for the aerotropolis, which are scheduled to be finalised by the end of this year, six initial precincts will be given the green light and included in any rezoning of land.
The initial precincts are Aerotropolis Core, Northern Gateway, Badgerys Creek, Wianamatta-South Creek, Agribusiness and Mamre Road Precincts.
Four remaining precincts, Dwyer Road (Southern Gateway Precinct), Rossmore, North Luddenham and Kemps Creek are not included in the initial plans.
Southern Gateway Precinct say being left out is unfair and it will mean that when the airport opens in 2026 they will be subjected to the noise of planes landing and taking off.
And as the aerotropolis and the airport “take off’’ they will also be subjected to increasing amount of traffic.
In their submission to the NSW Government’s draft Western Sydney Aerotropolis plan the residents also point out that leaving them out creates a planning gap on the southern side of the aerotropolis and indeed the airport.
Camden Council in its submission argued that land south of the airport ought to be considered for inclusion for industrial use to create jobs closer to the Macarthur region.
Southern Gateway Precinct were hoping that Liverpool Council would support their position at their meeting this Wednesday night.
“We are still very hopeful that the councillors will do the right thing at the meeting,’’ says Southern Gateway precinct land owner and spokesman Paul Coyto.
He said it was good council were at least calling on the aerotropolis authority, Western Sydney Planning Partnership, to declare a timeline for precincts such as Southern Gateway.
“That is good, but we will get as many residents as possible to the meeting on Wednesday, and we are hoping that the councillors will support our case,’’ Mr Coyto said.
“We just want to be included as one of the initial precincts for the aerotropolis, and I think we have a very good case, as our submissions to the Partnership states,’’ he said.
“It is unfair that we could be left out when our properties are so close to the new airport.
“And we do believe the aerotropolis will be a better outcome if we are in it at the initial stage,’’ he said.
“Otherwise we will basically end up being stuck in the middle of all the extra traffic and the noise from the airport,’’ Mr Coyto said.
The NSW Government and local councils are working closely with the community to deliver the Western Sydney Aerotropolis on the 11,200-hectare site surrounding the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
Over the coming decades, the plan is for the Aerotropolis to grow into a thriving economic hub, delivering new jobs, homes, infrastructure and services for people in the region.
“By harnessing the opportunities generated by Sydney’s first 24/7 international airport, the Aerotropolis is expected to attract new and emerging industries such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defence, high-tech freight and logistics and agribusiness,’’ says a Planning Partnership report.
“Not only will the Aerotropolis create more jobs in Western Sydney, but a greater diversity of jobs – meaning that fewer residents will need to commute out of the area for work.’’
Submissions for the draft Western Sydney Aerotropolis Plan close this Friday, February 28.
