Region.Coalition on second airport

The federal Coalition will engage with the Gillard government on proposals for a second airport in the Sydney Basin when a detailed plan is produced, Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, in The Australian Financial Review. Mr Abbott, who has not ruled out a second Sydney airport under a Coalition government, said the federal government needed to stop “posturing” and release a proposal.

Region. Leader at odds with members

Opposition leader, Tony Abbott, has put himself at odds with members of his own party by backing improvements around Sydney airport and spreading flights to other existing sites ahead of building a second airport, according to the Daily Telegraph. He said at an Infrastructure Partnerships Australia lunch that clearing congestion around Sydney airport and using Bankstown and Richmond airports would be more easily achieved than building a second major centre at Badgerys Creek, Wilton or even Canberra.

Region. Premier powerless

Premier, Barry O’Farrell, is powerless to stop a second airport being built in Sydney if the federal government decides to proceed, say constitutional law experts who believe it is simply a matter of political will. Professor George Williams, from the University of NSW, and Professor Anne Twomey, from the University of Sydney, say it is clear the federal government has the power to build a second airport, despite the objection of the NSW government, The Sydney Morning Herald said.

Region. Reference to airport deleted

A draft report from the O'Farrell government's Visitor Economy Taskforce recommended a second airport for Sydney - but the reference has been deleted before the final report is presented to the government by the end of May, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Region. Anger rising in cabinet

A groundswell of anger is rising in Barry O'Farrell's cabinet over his dismissal of a second Sydney airport, with the surprise decision putting him at loggerheads with his own infrastructure experts, according to The Daily Telegraph. By opting instead for a high-speed rail link to Canberra, Mr O'Farrell is at odds with Infrastructure NSW bosses Paul Broad and Nick Greiner, who are set to reveal their 20-year strategy for the state in September.

Region. Second airport report due

A federal and state government report into Sydney’s second airport has recommended urgent action for the construction of a second airport at Badgerys Creek or Wilton, according to The Daily Telegraph. The report will be handed to Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and the state government today

Region. Continue access to airport

The Tourism Industry Council NSW said regional flights should continue to access Sydney Airport, following media speculation that such flights use Bankstown Airport and the RAAF Base, at Richmond, to boost capacity at Mascot.

“Even if a second airport in the Sydney Basin is constructed or developed as part of the solution for aviation access in NSW, regional airlines must continue to have guaranteed access to Sydney Airport,” said the council’s GM, Andrew Jefferies.

“The potential loss of business for airlines and communities in regional centres across our state would simply reinforce the perception that Sydney is too difficult to travel to. Any negative perceptions would be detrimental to the economic fortunes of Sydney and the New South Wales economy as a whole.”

Sydney Airport’s, chief executive, Kerrie Mather, has insisted that the airport has the ability to cope with increased demand for flights until at least 2050, despite the federal government stating repeatedly a second airport is needed urgently for the city.

Region. Airport report ticked off

The final draft from the task force looking at a second airport for Sydney, is believed to have been ticked off and will go to transport ministers within the next fortnight, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The paper said measures to boost the capacity at Mascot would include regional airlines moved out of Sydney Airport and temporarily based at either RAAF Base Richmond or an expanded Bankstown airport until a full second airport became operational, either at Badgerys Creek or a second option in the Nepean area.

Region. Second Sydney Airport

Richmond Air Force Base, Newcastle and Canberra are emerging as likely sites for a second airport, according to The Australian Financial review. Sources close to the review, which federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, has set up, said the three locations were attractive possibilities because they had airport infrastructure that could be expanded and the approval process would be simpler than for a fresh site, the paper said.

Richmond. Possible RAAF base expansion

The federal government has identified five options for a second Sydney airport as it steps up efforts to meet its deadline for announcing a site by the middle of next year, The Sydney Morning Herald understands the committee set up to conduct the review has not yet narrowed down sites, leaving open the possible expansion of the Richmond Air Base, the RAAF base at Williamtown or new facilities on the central coast or closer to Canberra.

Richmond. RAAF base possible airport site

With Bankstown Airport and Badgerys Creek off the list as possible sites for Sydney’s second airport, the RAAF base, at Richmond, was firming as the preferred site, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. The paper said the State Government’s initial preference was for the Williamtown RAAF base, at Newcastle. Earlier, Qantas urged the Federal Government to open air force bases to more civilian traffic. Federal Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, has said a second airport would be built outside the Sydney basin. The Government would detail in a white paper, expected late this year, the process by which it would determine a second airport for Sydney.

Bankstown. Airport takes off after privatisation

Bankstown Airport generates $733 million annually, delivers flow-on impacts of $1.3 billion and accounts for 6000 direct and indirect jobs, according to an economic impact report prepared by URS Australia. "Since privatisation, the airport has increased its investment levels, along with our customers to the value of over $30 million. The value-added impact of these developments has delivered $67.14 million to the economy, added $26.94 to household income and 162 additional jobs have been created,” said Kim Ellis, CEO, Sydney Metropolitan Airport – Bankstown, which is one of two busiest airports in Australia.