RAAF base could stand in as second Sydney airport - ABC Online

Updated May 10, 2013 08:00:18

The Federal Government has flagged a RAAF base in Sydney's west as a possible site for a second Sydney airport.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese has released a technical study investigating the suitability of a second airport at Wilton, in Sydney's south-west.

The study has found a second airport at Wilton is possible, but would involve substantial environmental and engineering challenges and would not be ready for a considerable period of time.

There is also concern about the impact of mining-related subsidence at the site.

The study suggests the Richmond RAAF base as a possible alternative site.

It says it could cater for 5 million passengers per year.

Mr Albanese says Sydney needs a second airport sooner rather than later, and he is investigating the possibility of opening up the Richmond airbase to civilian passengers.

Christopher Brown was part of the joint government panel examining a second airport.

He says Richmond would not remove the need for a greenfield site.

"Sydney needs an expanded Mascot, it needs a newly-built Badgery's Creek, and it probably needs Richmond to take up the slack in the meantime," he said.

Topics: air-transport, industry, business-economics-and-finance, australia, nsw, richmond-2753, sydney-2000

First posted May 10, 2013 07:52:47