White noise: PM gets personal on airport opposition

West Australian

2 days ago

Anthony Albanese knows what it's like to have the constant drone of aeroplanes above, shaking off opposition to Sydney's first all-hours airport.
After cutting the ribbon of the completed Western Sydney Airport terminal, the prime minister spoke to the more than 48,000 residents in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains who will endure the noise from the pathways of aeroplanes.
He said the government has "gone to a great deal of trouble" to ensure minimum disruption and impact of aircraft noise from the planes above, pointing out his home in inner city Sydney sits about five kilometres from Sydney Airport.
"As the member for Grayndler and as a Marrickville resident, I'm very conscious about these issues," he told reporters from the new terminal on Wednesday.
"We need aviation activity, the truth is that some people have opposed this airport existing.
"Any time you have infrastructure, there'll be some opponents."
On the runway, only four airlines have signed up.
This is despite the airport aiming to cater for five million passengers per year once it opens, and 82 million by 2063.
Air New Zealand announced on Wednesday they will dock in 2027, joining Qantas, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines.
But the airport's chief executive Simon Hickey said they have spoken to more than 30 airlines.
Mr Albanese expects more carriers to join before the $5.3 billion project opens in late 2026.
"The objective here is for this to be a full international and domestic airport," he said.
The terminal's completion marks a significant milestone since construction began four years ago.
The gateway is inspired by the landscapes and flora around the Western Sydney region.
Inside, the ceiling is emblematic of eucalyptus trees with the curly form of its bark intertwined with skylights that aim to show the Australian natural light.
Passengers can also expect baggage to take five minutes to transport from the plane to the carousel, as about five kilometres of conveyor belts line the terminal, Mr Hickey said.
A single terminal will also house international and domestic services under one roof.
Mr Hickey said the airport has been designed to make flying less stressful.
"What reduces that stress is natural light, air and easy way-finding, and we've got all of those elements here," the chief executive said.
"We are standing under a skylight down in the lowest level, giving lots of natural light in your bag pick up area, which normally is a small and pokey place."
The airport will be connected to an underground rail line from April 2027.