People living in the vicinity of Western Sydney International Airport are in uproar over plans to create a new suburb called Wianamatta.
The new suburb would be bounded by Elizabeth Drive, The Northern Road and the Badgerys Creek Environmental Conservation Zone.
If it goes ahead, it means at least part of some historic suburbs such as Luddenham will have their name changed and be called Wianamatta.
The Luddenham Progress Association is calling on the Geographical Names Board to reject the proposal to create a new suburb named Wianamatta over the Western Sydney International Airport precinct, citing duplication, poor consultation, and unnecessary disruption to long‑standing local communities.
Under the proposal, the “new’’ suburb would absorb large portions of Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Bringelly and Greendale, even though most of the area is Commonwealth land associated with the airport.
Progress association president Wayne Willmington – whose family has links to the area going back more than 100 years – said the proposal makes no practical sense and has no historical connection to the land.
“The airport precinct sits on land that has been known as Luddenham for over 200 years,” Mr Willmington said.
“If the State Government insists on naming the airport precinct, that name should apply only to Commonwealth land, not to the remaining private land in Luddenham that has already been heavily impacted by acquisitions and infrastructure.”
The association has also raised concerns that the name Wianamatta is already in use for the Wianamatta Regional Park at St Marys-Ropes Crossing 15km away.
“Using the same name for a new suburb around the airport will create confusion for emergency services, deliveries, navigation systems and visitors,” says Mr Willmington, pictured at the graves of his ancestors.
“The Geographical Names Board’s own naming principles emphasise clarity and uniqueness. This proposal does the opposite.”
The association also says the proposal has not been properly communicated to residents.
“There has been no public information session, and no proactive communication,” Mr Willmington said.
“Most locals only found out because a single MP posted about it on Facebook. That is not genuine consultation.”
The association emphasises that the airport precinct sits on land with deep European‑settler heritage, including:
- James Badgery’s 1806 Exeter Farm
- John Blaxland’s 1813 Luddenham Estate
- Bringelly’s orchard and vineyard history with Greendale’s pastoral farming legacy
“These names are woven into our community’s identity,” Mr Willmington said.
“Renaming long‑standing suburbs is unnecessary and erases the heritage of the families who built this region.”
And if the State Government insists on naming the airport precinct, the name should be Badgerys, not Wianamatta, says the association.
“Everyone has called it Badgerys Creek Airport for decades,” Mr Willmington said.
“It’s familiar, practical, and historically accurate. It respects both our European‑settler heritage and the Aboriginal recognition already incorporated into the airport through art, road names and language signage.”
The Luddenham Progress Association is urging residents to lodge submissions before October 10 via the Geographical Names Board website.
“This proposal is unnecessary, confusing, and poorly aligned with future planning,” Mr Willmington said.
“We ask the Geographical Names Board to reject the creation of Wianamatta and retain the existing suburb boundaries.”
