Cutting-edge technology and innovative design may be coming together on the airfield at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, but the community is still in the dark about the flight paths.
Construction of the 3.7-kilometre runway will begin in 2022 after the contract to design and build the airfield was awarded to the CPB Contractors and ACCIONA joint venture.
Western Sydney Airport CEO Simon Hickey said the efficient airfield design, enabled by the latest technology, will reduce taxi times, preventing delays on the tarmac.
"We'll safely get planes in the air or to the gates faster," Mr Hickey said. "Western Sydney International will continue operating safely [due to new sophisticated equipment] in foggy conditions that currently shut down Sydney's skies."
But Blue Mountains Greens said the project is a "lose-lose" for the Mountains.
"To make announcement after announcement but still keep the details of the flight paths secret, is not only a disservice to the Blue Mountains, it's disrespectful to its residents," said Ward 3 candidate, Kingsley Liu said. "The Minister must start showing some respect: release the flight paths and agree to a curfew."
And Ward 2 Cr Brent Hoare added: "As it stands, the Western Sydney Airport is a lose-lose situation for the Blue Mountains community and we continue to stand against it.
The Green candidate for Ward 1 Sarah Redshaw said agreeing to a curfew "would show that they are listening to us and that they are prepared to mitigate some of the huge impacts this project will have on our lives".
NSW Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi has asked parliamentary Questions On Notice of the Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher. She said communities were being left in the dark.
"The EIS was finalised five whole years ago. It beggars belief that the government hasn't determined its preferred flight paths by now."
Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman, has been rebuffed despite many attempts to sit on the Forum on Western Sydney Airport. FOWSA is the body responsible for community consultation on the airport. Ms Templeman said someone in government must know where the planes will be flying.
"This is a government keeping the flight paths of this airport secret. This is a government doing back-room deals on land for this airport, using taxpayer funds to pay 10 times more than what the land is worth to their party donors. This is a government that cannot be trusted."
The government has said the preliminary flight paths will be released to the public for feedback as part of the environmental assessment process.
Western Sydney International is on track to open to international, domestic and air cargo services in late 2026. Airfield construction is expected to create around 1,200 direct jobs.
