The NSW Labor Government this week launched a major investment campaign for Bradfield City, promoting new opportunities for businesses, universities and industry to establish themselves in what it describes as “Australia’s first new city in 100 years.”
And it revealed that the government has also made a regulation change so all development within Bradfield’s master plan footprint will be assessed through a dedicated streamlined state‑led planning pathway.
“This will make sure we can establish the foundations Bradfield needs to be a thriving community,’’ the media release said.
Which wasn’t exactly music to the ears of Luddenham Village, just a few kilometres away from Bradfield.
Luddenham was established in 1813 and is one of Western Sydney’s oldest European settlements.
It is also not happy because it’s still waiting for the Minns Government to approve its long‑endorsed village expansion.
Bradfield is located 2.8 km from the proposed second runway and continues to advance rapidly, while Luddenham’s proposed new housing, more than 3.6 km from the same runway, remains on hold.
The second runway is the stated reason for delaying the Luddenham Village extension.
Luddenham Progress Association says the contrast is now impossible to ignore.
“Bradfield is being fast‑tracked. Luddenham is being held back,” says Wayne Willmington, president of the association.
He said this week’s Bradfield announcement reinforced the double standard facing the community.
“The government is actively courting global businesses to move into Bradfield just 2.8 km from the second runway, while refusing to approve homes in Luddenham, which is more than 3.6 km away,’’ he says.
“If Bradfield is suitable for advanced industry, education and commercial development, then Luddenham is more than suitable for homes.”
Mr Willmington, pictured above, said the State Government’s enthusiasm for Bradfield stands in stark contrast to its inaction on Luddenham.
“Bradfield may be the ‘first new city in 100 years’, but Luddenham has been here for more than 200 years,’’ he says.
“Our community helped build Western Sydney – we deserve fair treatment.”
He said the community is also seeking transparency about whether government land ownership is influencing planning decisions.
“Bradfield is largely government‑owned land, while the Luddenham Village extension relies on privately owned land.
“The government is both the landowner and the decision‑maker in Bradfield.
“The community has repeatedly asked whether this dual role is influencing the different treatment, and to date, no clear explanation has been provided.”
In its campaign for a fair go from the Minns Government, the association emphasises that:
- Bradfield is 2.8 km from the proposed second runway.
- Proposed new housing in Luddenham is over 3.6 km from the runway.
- Much of Luddenham Village is outside verified flight paths and noise contours.
- The Luddenham Village Interim Strategy has been endorsed by the community and both councils since 2022.
Luddenham Progress Association is calling on the NSW Government to:
Immediately implement the Luddenham Village Interim Strategy for land not affected by verified noise or flight path constraints;
Explain publicly why Bradfield is progressing rapidly while Luddenham remains frozen;
Commit to a staged approval pathway allowing shovel‑ready development in Luddenham to proceed now;
Release all technical assessments used to justify the differing treatment between Bradfield and Luddenham;
Provide a transparent explanation of whether government land ownership at Bradfield has influenced planning decisions, and why privately owned Luddenham land continues to face delays.
“Luddenham deserves the same urgency and respect as Bradfield,” says Mr Willmington who confirmed his community will continue to push for fair treatment.
“We support the growth of Western Sydney, but not at the expense of our own community. Luddenham has waited long enough. It’s time for the Government to act.”