Scenic World’s managing director, Anthea Hammon, has been appointed to the board of directors of WSA Co, the company that will build and operate the Western Sydney Airport.
The appointment will help strengthen the voice of the Blue Mountains in the lead up to the airport opening in 2026.
Recommended by the Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Paul Fletcher, following a recent visit to the Blue Mountains, Ms Hammon was selected for her business acumen, engineering background and ongoing efforts to position the Mountains as a world class tourism destination.
She will play a leading role in shaping the development of the airport, with a focus on balancing the needs of community, environment and the business sector.
“It’s an honour to be able to take up a board position which will allow me to bring the voice of the Blue Mountains community to such a vital project which will build the local economy, open up new opportunities for the Blue Mountains, and create new jobs closer to home,” she said.
“It will also provide a unique opportunity for me to provide valuable insight to ensure growth is managed in a sustainable way that takes into consideration our incredible World Heritage environment and the unique mountains lifestyle which is close to our hearts.”
As a Mountains resident, she will also be able to highlight the social and environmental needs of the Blue Mountains during the Western Sydney Airport development and beyond.
Mr Fletcher believes the airport is an “essential infrastructure development” to take tourism to the next level in the Blue Mountains, providing a link for tourists and locals to access the Mountains.
Blue Mountains Accommodation and Tourism Association president, Jason Cronshaw, said the airport would open up new opportunities for the entire western Sydney area.
“The Western Sydney Airport will benefit our area by boosting expenditure and providing vital infrastructure to cater for projected growth in our region, and having a local representative in such a leading role is a fantastic opportunity,” he said.
Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute executive director, Dr John Merson, said Ms Hammon’s appointment would help to keep the local environment front of mind during the Western Sydney Airport development and beyond.
“Given that the new airport is now a reality, it’s critical there is someone in a position of influence to represent the interest of the Blue Mountains and its surrounding World Heritage area,” he said. “There are some real benefits for Mountains residents and I believe Anthea is the right person to advocate for those interests.”
