An information session on Western Sydney Airport held in Glenbrook on June 1 has been criticised for failing to provide any clarity on flight paths for the planned development.
Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman said she was still deeply concerned “there is no plan to engage with the wider community about flight path design until a preferred option is determined in three years’ time”.
Ms Templeman welcomed the Forum on Western Sydney Airport (FOWSA) event but said “there was nothing new that changes my assessment of the impact of the planned airport”.
“I note that there was only one mention in the displayed information of the airport being a 24/7 airport with no curfew, and only one mention in a fact sheet, and that really isn’t the level of transparency that is required for honest discussion,” she said.
Federal urban infrastructure minister Paul Fletcher said the information session, along with others held in western Sydney, “provided an opportunity for the community to speak with FOWSA and access information about Western Sydney Airport directly from project team members”.
“FOWSA plays a critical community consultation role in the planning and development of the new airport and is the main consultation mechanism for the project,” he said.
“Holding this series of information sessions demonstrates the Australian Government’s commitment to informing the community and seeking their views on all aspects of the airport’s development, well before the first plane lands in 2026.”
But Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill said the information session did not provide answers to many questions about the airport.
“We still don't know where the flight paths will be. The government is asking us to sign a blank cheque,” he said.
“There is still no curfew. The people of the Blue Mountains are being treated as second-class citizens compared to those living east of us.
“There are no guarantees in relation to the retention of world heritage listing.”
The information session was held at the Glenbrook School of Arts hall.
