Planes at Sydney Airport. Picture: John Grainger Source: The Daily Telegraph
SYDNEY Airport has written to every council and politician in NSW, claiming it will be able to meet the state's aviation needs for at least the next two decades, as support for a second airport builds.
The letter, from airport chief executive Kerrie Mather, was sent out last month following the release of the airport's preliminary draft master plan, which laid out the airport's strategy for dealing with an expected doubling of passenger numbers over 20 years.
"The PDMP (Preliminary Draft Master Plan) details our vision for the operation and development of Sydney Airport that will enable the forecast growth in air travel for tourism and trade well beyond the 20-year planning period," Ms Mather wrote.
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The airport expects the number of passengers flying in and out to double to 72 million travellers by 2033.
Even without relaxation of the airport's cap or curfew, the airport said it would be able to comfortably handle the predicted increase.
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But a joint state-federal report into Sydney aviation capacity last year predicted that in just two years there would be no room to increase flights in peak periods and roads around the airport would be at capacity.
By 2020 there would not be enough gates to unload passengers, the report found.
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A former senior Labor minister yesterday said, with Sydney Airport having first right of refusal to operate the second airport, it was in its favour to squeeze as much life as possible out of the airport.
"They certainly won't want to do it until (Sydney Airport) is packed," he said.
"Passengers will be screaming because it's going to be so busy, if it isn't already."
Badgerys Creek is the only logical option for a second airport, but politicians from either side would not support it when a handful of seats in western Sydney were set to determine the election, he said.
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"(The issue will only be addressed) when some government has a real majority and they can focus on the transport needs of Australia as opposed to their electoral needs of getting re-elected. We live for that day," he said.
A host of western Sydney mayors yesterday called for an end to the indecision, calling for a western Sydney airport to be built to help drive jobs growth and investment in the region.
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Holroyd mayor Ross Grove called for an end of the cycle of endless studies and indecision.
"We need access to an international portal spewing jobs forth into every potential site, breathing new life into abandoned factories and warehouses, creating more places to work locally and return home earlier, to enjoy the families western Sydney works so hard to support," he said.
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A Sydney Airport spokeswoman said the letter was part of its community consultation process for the master plan.
"Sydney Airport is required to consult broadly in relation to our master plan, and our correspondence to all councils across Sydney and broader NSW forms part of this consultation process," she said.
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