While the excitement level is rising in anticipation of the opening of Western Sydney International next year the same cannot be said for the residents of Luddenham – the only village within the aerotropolis precinct.
Luddenham is in effect in limbo, until the state government accepts that one of the oldest settlements in NSW will wither and die unless it is allowed to grow.
Luddenham Progress Association has been calling on the NSW Government to make good on its election promise and implement the three year old Luddenham Village Strategy.
Luddenham Village is the only area in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis that was excluded from the finalized rezoning plans released by the NSW Government in March 2022.
Earlier this month, the NSW Government released their “Aerotropolis sector plan – a plan to enable development in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis’’ and once again there was no mention of Luddenham Village or its future.
President of the Luddenham Progress Association, Wayne Willmington, says an interim strategy for the Village released with the planning package had resounding endorsement from the local community, Penrith and Liverpool City Councils, and State and Federal Members of Parliament.
“Everyone is committed to saving the iconic Luddenham Village, which is one of the oldest settlements in NSW and the only existing ‘village’ in the Aerotropolis,’’ he says.
A roadblock to implementing the strategy has been concerns about noise levels due to the proximity of Luddenham Village to the new airport.
The Commonwealth Government released the draft flight paths, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and its noise amelioration policy last year.
After reviewing the EIS, Luddenham Progress Association say they can see no reason why the Luddenham Village Plan cannot proceed.
“The Luddenham Village strategy addresses proactively the noise level concerns with all proposed new housing sitting outside of noise contours, including the projected contours for 2063 when the airport is planned to be operating at full capacity,” Mr Willmington said.
“Every day that this decision is delayed is jeopardising the Village’s future.
“The community has lost faith in the government’s election promise to finalize the plans for the Village and people are starting to leave.
“For the first time in a generation, Luddenham Public School is down to just two classrooms.
“There are no more excuses – the NSW minister for planning has the information he needs to move forward and secure the future of Luddenham Village by implementing the NSW Planning recommended Luddenham Village Strategy, allowing an increase to the population to the north of the existing Luddenham Village which is outside of all the noise contours,’’ Mr Willmington said.
“The State Government’s new Bradfield City is the same distance from the second runway as the extension of Luddenham Village.’’
