Momentum on Western Sydney Airport continues to gain pace with the appointment of an airport planning contractor and the shortlisting of three bids for the first major earthworks package.
Western Sydney Airport chief executive Graham Millett said Arup, one of the world’s leading engineering design companies, has been appointed to deliver Airport Planning Services for Australia’s first smart airport.
Arup has worked on airports around the world, providing planning services for London’s Heathrow Airport, Hong Kong Airport and New York’s John F Kennedy Airport.
“We’re pleased to have Arup on board as a key partner in planning an airport that will get the most out of emerging digital technology to streamline customer experience,” Mr Millett said.
“We’re planning for a 5G network across the Airport site and planning needs to consider opportunities for 5G technologies to improve operations.”
Functional airport planning is essential to informing the physical design of the terminal and airside facilities, which will be delivered under a separate contract that is yet to be procured.
“We want it to be easy for people to catch a plane and for airlines to minimise turnaround times for their aircraft – so early planning will be essential to inform the build,” Mr Millett said.
“The airport will open with the capacity for 10 million annual passengers, but we have a blueprint to take it to 82 million passengers in the 2060s.
“We need the airport to be easily expandable as demand grows, without impacting operations,” he said.
The northern half of the site will be the location of the first 3.7-kilometre runway.
A second runway is expected to be required in the 2050s.
Cities, urban infrastructure and population minister Alan Tudge said early planning will be key to unlocking the airport’s potential in terms of job creation and new export opportunities.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Western Sydney Airport has been projected to support 11,000 jobs during construction and a further 28,000 in the first five years of operation,” Mr Tudge said.[/social_quote]
Work to build Western Sydney Airport began in September with initial earthworks, which will be followed by the first bulk earthworks package.
Following an open expression of interest phase, Western Sydney Airport has shortlisted three organisations for the work:
- CPB Contractors and Lendlease joint venture;
- Ferrovial Agroman and QH & M Birt joint venture;
- Salini Impreglio.
The contract for the first bulk earthworks package is expected to be awarded in mid-2019.
“Across all the earthworks packages we’ve got around 22 million cubic metres of soil to move,” Mr Millett said.
“We’re fortunate that the amount of earth to take off the hills roughly equals the amount we need to fill the valleys, so that helps minimise the number of trucks accessing the site.”
There are four remaining major works packages that will be released to market progressively, including earthwork on the southern half of the site, terminal and runway construction, and landside construction such as offices and car parks.
