Local small businesses and workers like Travis Fell from Gregory Hills are the big winners as construction of Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport enters its second year.
“It’s not very often you get to be part of building an airport, and this is a chance for me to work on a legacy project,’’ says Mr Fell.
“How many people can say they have worked on an airport – they don’t get built every day.
“Representing Indigenous Australians on the project means opportunities to enter the construction industry – a path for Indigenous Australians to follow to gain experience and qualifications.
“That’s not just for Indigenous people but for all of Western Sydney.”
Western Sydney Airport chief executive officer Graham Millett said $37 million from the early earthworks contract had been invested locally since construction began on September 24 last year.
“That’s $37 million of subcontracts to 24 businesses across Western Sydney, from Narellan to Norwest, Blacktown to Bringelly,” Mr Millett said.
“These are local businesses, including several Indigenous businesses, delivering the equipment and services we need to build Sydney’s new airport, whether it’s concrete pumping, plumbing, fencing, demolition or plant equipment supplies.
“We know the flow-on effects of this economic stimulus go much further when it comes to boosting the local economy and this will increase significantly once major earthworks begin in early 2020,” he said.
Another local worker at the airport site is Elloise McWilliams, 25, a graduate engineer from Cobbitty.
“Working on Western Sydney Airport is a wonderful and rare opportunity full of variety and excitement whilst being able to learn from some of the best in the industry,’’ she says.
Carl Marino, 32, of Camden is a scraper operator.
“It means a lot to me to work on Western Sydney Airport as it’s one of the biggest jobs around here. Getting your foot in the door is so important so I am really happy to be working here,’’ he says.
Mr Millett said WSA was exceeding all of its employment targets for local, Indigenous and learning workers.
“Local workers currently make up more than 50 per cent of the total workforce at Western Sydney Airport, almost double our construction phase target of 30 per cent,” he said.
“Every day, tens of thousands of Western Sydney workers leave the region for work, spending hours commuting.
“This project will be a game changer for people from Western Sydney who want to work closer to home and have more time to spend with their families.’’
