Second Sydney airport to become Federal Election issue as western Sydney ... - The Daily Telegraph

Source: The Daily Telegraph

LIBERAL and Labor mayors in Sydney's west have united in a bid to make the city's second airport the federal election's biggest issue.

Fed up with the never-ending airport debate, mayors of Liverpool, Parramatta, Bankstown and Holroyd have called on federal candidates in the upcoming election to push for a decision, saying all their constituents care about is jobs closer to home and the soaring cost of living.

Wilton's cost and construction time too long

"If anybody wants to win votes in western Sydney they need to bring jobs to western Sydney," Liverpool Liberal mayor Ned Mannoun said.

Bankstown Labor mayor Khal Asfour agreed: "We all want a new second Sydney airport. I just want them to get on with it, make a decision and construct it.

Airport courage needed

"The longer we put off making a decision delays the delivery of what is a very important piece of transport infrastructure which benefits the economy and generates jobs for our community."

Parramatta mayor John Chedid said Sydney needed a second airport - one located in western Sydney. "We believe that it will bring economic benefits and importantly, jobs that are close to where people live," he said.

Badgerys airport plan finally takes flight

A joint state-federal government study into Sydney's aviation capacity last year found Sydney Airport will start to hit capacity constraints in peak periods by the end of the decade, forcing up the price of tickets and costing the state up to $500 million a year in lost revenue.

But in its latest 20-year master plan Sydney Airport said it was capable of meeting demand without any changes to its flight cap or curfew, revising down its passenger forecasts from 79 million a year in 2029 to 74 million passengers a year in 2033.

Debate for second Sydney airport reignited

Despite the pleas of Sydney's local mayors and the fact the campaign for a second airport has received the backing of Unions NSW, the need for a second airport still does not appear to be registering at a federal level with both Labor and the opposition refusing to make a policy announcement before the election.

The federal government has ruled out building a second airport at Badgerys Creek despite owning the site and is instead investigating the use of RAAF Base Richmond for civilian flights and Wilton in southwest Sydney.

Wilton not favoured for second Sydney airport

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey, who previously said there was "no barrier" to an airport at Badgerys Creek, yesterday said through a spokesman that he still supported a second airport but that it was the government's job to announce it.

But Liberal candidate for Chifley Isabelle White tried to hose down the issue, saying locals were not talking about the second airport as an issue. "The Coalition really has no plans to build a second airport at Badgerys Creek," Ms White said.

Second Sydney airport supported

Labor MP for Chifley Ed Husic accused the Liberals of hiding their plans until after the election, saying he had a consistent position opposing the airport for 15 years.

Assistant treasurer and Lindsay MP David Bradbury, whose seat is home to the Badgerys Creek site, said he supported jobs and growth in western Sydney, but not at the expense of the local environment and quality of life.

Regentville mum-of-two and university student Gabrielle Burke, a Lindsay voter, said she would be more likely to vote for the candidate who supported the airport.