The proposed development of Western Sydney Airport in Australia took a major step forward today (October 19) after the Australian government released the Environmental Impact Survey (EIS) and Airport Plan to the public.
The Airport Plan details a single runway airport located in Badgerys Creek in western Sydney, which would be capable of handling up to 10 million passengers annually. The EIS examines what impact the airport would have on the local environment surrounding the proposed Badgerys Creek site. Members of the public have until December 18, 2015, to comment on the draft proposals.
Warren Truss, deputy prime minister and minister for infrastructure and regional development for Australia, released a statement on Twitter following the publication of the draft documents. Truss said, “The Australian government is committed to a robust assessment of environmental, social and economic impacts to ensure the proposed airport can deliver the best outcomes for the Western Sydney community.
“The new airport will create tens of thousands of jobs for the people of western Sydney through the construction phase and during operations. As a full-service international airport, it will be a business and tourism hub, creating long-term jobs and economic prosperity for the region.
“The draft Airport Plan and the draft EIS have been released together today to ensure that all issues surrounding the airport development can be considered simultaneously.”
To find out more about the submission process and community consultation activities for both the draft Airport Plan and draft EIS, click here.