Second Sydney Airport
Encyclopedia
The Second Sydney Airport is an ongoing proposition for another airport to supplement or replace the existing Kingsford Smith Airport
in Sydney
, Australia
. Estimated to cost between $6 and $8 billion, governments of the past 30 years have not pursued the issue to anything beyond some preliminary investigations and some precautionary land acquisition.
Since the construction of Kingsford Smith, aviation in Sydney has grown by massive amounts. Between 1987 and 1999–2000 domestic flights through Sydney more than doubled to nearly 27 million and international passengers increased from 8 million to 15 million in the same period. Almost half of all scheduled flights in Australia land or take off at Kingsford Smith, and the airport dealt with 45% of international passengers in 1998.
or Badgerys Creek
. The Hawke Government decided upon Badgerys Creek, but in 1989 it also made the decision to permit the construction of the third runway at Kingsford Smith. This resulted in a great deal of political fallout, and the Keating Government made limited moves towards the new airport at Badgerys Creek.
announced that he would explore the option of a second airport at Holsworthy
, but rejected it in 1998 and confirmed Badgerys Creek as the preferred site in 1999. Commentators doubted if a major second airport for Sydney would ever be built, with a report given to the government in 1999 recommending that regional air travel be shifted to Bankstown Airport
, a new general aviation airport be built at Badgerys Creek, a fast train
between Sydney and Canberra
be established, and investigation made on extension of the fast train to Melbourne and Brisbane.
and Exeter. Before long however this option was discounted.
The issue arose again in 2008, following the 2007 election of the Rudd Government
. Convinced capacity at the current airport will be exhausted, it began a search for a new site. The Federal Government wants the second airport to be outside the Sydney basin
and will examine alternatives from the Southern Highlands
, to Newcastle
and inland. It is believed various options, including a freight-only airport operation, Camden
, converting part or all of RAAF Richmond and Canberra (or its nearby towns) as passenger and freight terminals were all to be investigated for feasibility. Bankstown and Badgerys Creek, according to sources, were not to be put forward.
Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Estimated to cost between $6 and $8 billion, governments of the past 30 years have not pursued the issue to anything beyond some preliminary investigations and some precautionary land acquisition.
Since the construction of Kingsford Smith, aviation in Sydney has grown by massive amounts. Between 1987 and 1999–2000 domestic flights through Sydney more than doubled to nearly 27 million and international passengers increased from 8 million to 15 million in the same period. Almost half of all scheduled flights in Australia land or take off at Kingsford Smith, and the airport dealt with 45% of international passengers in 1998.
1970s - 1986: MANS Study
Planning for a second airport for Sydney commenced in the 1970s with the Major Airport Needs of Sydney (MANS) intergovernmental group established to select a site. In 1983 the newly elected Labor Federal Government hoped for quick decision, but it was not until 1986 that recommendations were made: WiltonWilton, New South Wales
Wilton is a small town of the Macarthur Region, New South Wales, Australia in the Wollondilly Shire. It is home to a population of 1279 and includes the modern suburb development of Bingara Gorge. It is located within close proximity Cataract Dam...
or Badgerys Creek
Badgerys Creek, New South Wales
-People:According to the 2006 census taken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Badgerys Creek had a population of 721, an improvement on the 1996 figure but still less than half the number in 1981. Well over half the houses were being rented , largely because of the federal government's...
. The Hawke Government decided upon Badgerys Creek, but in 1989 it also made the decision to permit the construction of the third runway at Kingsford Smith. This resulted in a great deal of political fallout, and the Keating Government made limited moves towards the new airport at Badgerys Creek.
1999 - Badgerys Creek
At the 1996 election, Australian Prime Minister John HowardJohn Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
announced that he would explore the option of a second airport at Holsworthy
Holsworthy, New South Wales
Holsworthy is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Holsworthy is located 31 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Liverpool and partly in the Sutherland Shire.Holsworthy is most notable for...
, but rejected it in 1998 and confirmed Badgerys Creek as the preferred site in 1999. Commentators doubted if a major second airport for Sydney would ever be built, with a report given to the government in 1999 recommending that regional air travel be shifted to Bankstown Airport
Bankstown Airport
Bankstown Airport is a general aviation airport and business park located in the City of Bankstown, from the central business district of Sydney, Australia...
, a new general aviation airport be built at Badgerys Creek, a fast train
High-speed rail in Australia
Proposals for High-speed rail infrastructure in Australia have been under active investigation since the early 1980s. There is currently no such technology in active service in Australia; existing rail services between the east coast cities are slow, infrequent, and not realistically competitive...
between Sydney and Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
be established, and investigation made on extension of the fast train to Melbourne and Brisbane.
2000 - Stalled
In December 2000 the Federal Government decided not to build the second airport and shelved the first very fast train project, while keeping regional airlines at Kingsford Smith and expanding Bankstown and Canberra airports. In December 2003 John Anderson, the then transport minister, said "following exhaustive examination it is clear the existing airport at Mascot will be able to handle air traffic demands for a long time to come".2004 - 2008: More Studies
In May 2004 it was revealed that State and Federal parliament had investigated the possibility of establishing the second Sydney airport at Well's Creek, not far from the townships of Sutton Forest, BerrimaBerrima, New South Wales
Berrima is an historic village in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. The village, once a major town, is located on the Old Hume Highway between Canberra and Sydney. It was previously known officially as the Town of Berrima...
and Exeter. Before long however this option was discounted.
The issue arose again in 2008, following the 2007 election of the Rudd Government
Rudd Government
The Rudd Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia of the Australian Labor Party from 2007 to 2010, led by Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister. The Rudd Government commenced on 3 December 2007, when Rudd was sworn in along with his ministry...
. Convinced capacity at the current airport will be exhausted, it began a search for a new site. The Federal Government wants the second airport to be outside the Sydney basin
Sydney Basin
The Sydney Basin is a sedimentary basin on the east coast of New South Wales, Australia consisting of Permian and Triassic sedimentary rocks...
and will examine alternatives from the Southern Highlands
Southern Highlands, New South Wales
The Southern Highlands, also locally referred to as the Highlands, is a geographical region and district in New South Wales, Australia and is 110 km south-west of Sydney. The entire region is under the local government area of the Wingecarribee Shire...
, to Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
and inland. It is believed various options, including a freight-only airport operation, Camden
Camden, New South Wales
-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...
, converting part or all of RAAF Richmond and Canberra (or its nearby towns) as passenger and freight terminals were all to be investigated for feasibility. Bankstown and Badgerys Creek, according to sources, were not to be put forward.
External links
- Parliamentary Library: Second Sydney Airport — A Chronology