Qantas and the tourism industry has welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement that a second major airport for Sydney will be constructed at Badgerys Creek. Construction is scheduled to start in 2016.
The bulk of the $2.5 billion investment for the airport in Sydney’s west would come from the private sector, with government to take the lead on building surrounding infrastructure, including roads.
Sydney Airport has first right of refusal to build and operate the airport.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the second airport was a vital piece of economic infrastructure for Australia – and Badgerys Creek was "clearly the right site".
"The role of second airports has been well-established in several of the world’s major capitals. Sydney is the key gateway for air traffic in-and-out of Australia and the benefits of having two major airports will be felt nationwide," Joyce said.
Peak national industry body Tourism & Transport Forum chief executive Ken Morrison said the airport announcement was "unequivocally great news for Australia’s $107 billion tourism industry".
He said the TTF was happy to hear there were no plans to implement a curfew at Badgerys Creek.
"We would encourage the federal government to help fund a full suite of transport infrastructure, including roads and a rail link connecting Badgerys Creek to the Sydney rail network," Morrison said.
