Completion of the construction of the terminal and runway ensures that the countdown is on to the opening of Western Sydney International Airport.
Sydney’s new 24-hour airport is one step closer to welcoming its first passengers, with major construction works across Western Sydney International Airpport (WSI) now complete.
Indeed, Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, as well as senior executives from some of WSl’s key partners joined airport CEO, Simon Hickey, at the new gateway in early June to celebrate the milestone.
Hickey thanked WSl’s design and construction partners that have worked over many years to help bring WSl’s terminal to life from the initial design concepts by COX Architecture and Zaha Hadid Architects to the design and construction by Multiplex and Woods Bagot; with overall project delivery alongside WSI by Bechtel.
He also acknowledged the tremendous efforts of CPB Contractors/ ACCIONA Joint Venture that led works on the Airside Civil and Pavement Works, including WSl’s 3.7km runway, as well as AeroWest, a Joint Venture between BMD Constructions and Seymour Whyte Construction that completed the Landside Civil and Building Works, including the design and construction of carparks, roads, bridges and utilities.
Drawing on the region’s natural beauty, WSl’s new terminal marries sustainable-by-design principles and innovative technology to deliver a seamless experience for airlines and passengers at Australia’s first new greenfield international airport in more than 50 years.
“Global architecture leaders Zaha Hadid Architects, based in London, and one of our nation’s top firms COX Architecture were selected to develop the initial design concepts of WSI following a competition in 2019 that attracted more than 40 international and domestic proposals,” noted Hickey.
“Fast forward six years and WSI is on the precipice of launching a seamless and stress-free airport experience unlike any other in Australia, giving our global city a 24-hour international gateway that will continue to create significant economic opportunities for all of Greater Sydney.”
Hickey believes that the terminal design is emblematic of the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area as well as the Cumberland Plain and the region’s incredible First Nations culture and history.
“People will love spending time in this terminal as they enjoy the iconic vistas of the surrounding Blue Mountains that are reflected in our stunning feature ceiling and take in the thoughtful design and materials like the extensive use of beautiful sandstone that was sourced from a quarry on the Central Coast,” he predicted.
“Visitors will be welcomed by the stories of Dharug country that will connect the world with more than 60,000 years of Aboriginal culture while also highlighting the vibrant communities of Western Sydney.”
The terminal has a climate-responsive facade, and more than 6,000 solar panels affixed to its roof to provide energy efficiency and renewable electricity, reducing the airport’s carbon footprint.
In addition, it will collect and recycle rainfall for use in airport operations such as bathrooms, irrigation, and cooling towers.
Passengers flying out of WSI will experience a streamlined departure with access to next generation technology to help them move through the airport at speed, while both domestic and international gates are under one roof, making travellers connections simple and efficient.
Hickey acknowledged the thousands of workers who’ve helped bring WSI to life, and the more than $500 million the airport has spent with businesses based in Western Sydney.
He stated: “WSI has been the catalyst for billions in investment in the region and has helped create thousands of local jobs during construction and will bring even more opportunities across our precinct and the surrounding Bradfield City and Aerotropolis once the airport opens.
“Since the first sod was turned, nearly half our workforce has hailed from Western Sydney, with around a third learning on the job, so the region should be immensely proud of this new terminal as so many workers, businesses, manufacturers, and suppliers have literally helped bring it to life. This is their legacy.”
While major construction of the WSI terminal is complete, the fit-out of the terminal’s retail precinct and airline lounges will take place closer to the airport’s opening as commercial tenders and final contracts continue to progress over the months ahead.
WSI Facts & Figures
- WSI will open with one runway, which can cater to 10 million passengers a year from day one of operations.
- The runway can accommodate up to Code F aircraft, which includes the A380 and B747-8. WSI will be Australia’s first airport without a traditional air traffic control tower and will operate as a digitised aerodrome.
- 30km of high voltage cable, 32km of low voltage cable and about 100km of fibre optic cable were installed that support the airfield’s lighting and communication systems.
- A team of 30 paving experts placed 140,000 tonnes of asphalt on the runway – the equivalent of 70 soccer fields in size.
- Around 73,000 cubic metres of concrete paving was required.
- 4.2 million square metres of landscape revegetation and maintenance was carried out – the equivalent of 551 football fields.
- Six million tonnes of sandstone from Sydney-based tunnelling projects was saved from landfill and used as base layers in the 3.7km runway and site road network.
Airfield equipped to handle the A380
In late May, Hickey described the completion of the airport’s 3.7km runway as a “significant step” in the delivery of the city’s self proclaimed “24-hour airport”.
The runway, which will be capable of accommodating aircraft up to the size of the A380, was the first key piece of infrastructure to be completed at the gateway.
Speaking at the time, he noted: “The work to build our runway and supporting airside facilities has been years in the making – during which workers have literally moved mountains to create a modern, technology-enabled airfield that will soon welcome planes and passengers.
“Our runway will be equipped with modern technology and our rapid exit taxiways mean WSI’s average taxing time will be around five minutes, significantly shorter compared to other airports around the world, which will get people home and away faster.”
Hickey said there have been millions of work hours put into this critical piece of WSI’s infrastructure with thousands of workers contributing toward the extensive construction project since the bulk earthworks contract was awarded in 2019.
“The site has been transformed to build our 3.7km runway, equipped with approximately 3,000 aeronautical ground lights and 348 high intensity approach lights, which will cater for up to 10 million annual passengers from day one of operations next year.
“Part of our runway certification also involved a Piper PA-30 Twin Engine Comanche aircraft successfully completing multiple take offs and landings on our runway in October last year to ensure the lighting and technology systems were operating effectively.”
The CPB Contractors/ACCIONA Joint Venture led works on the Airside Civil and Pavement Works package (ACP), which was also overseen by WSI’s delivery partner, Bechtel.
Aside from WSI’s runway and lighting, the ACP package also involved the design and construction of the taxiway pavements, aircraft pavement markings, airside roads, surface water drainage, airside security fence and landscaping.
CPB Contractors project director, Christian Byrne, stated that the CPB Contractors/ACCIONA Joint Venture team is very proud to have been a part of this transformational project.
He enthused: “Successful delivery of the ACP project required millions of tonnes of high quality, high strength, quarry materials to be sourced and imported into the site, then processed and placed in the aircraft pavement areas, to construct the aviation pavements to strict specifications, which took an enormous effort from a large team.
“The aircraft pavements were constructed with an excellent team culture and commitment to working safely, and we developed and delivered an Australian-first paving methodology of ‘true-slip forming’ the concrete aircraft pavements – improving productivity and safety as well.”
The airport’s newly released inaugural master plan outlines some truly bold ambitions for WSI, which Hickey believes will act as a catalyst for growth and development of the Western Sydney economy.
“Our vision over the next two decades is for WSI to become the gateway of choice to Australia and the world – connecting people, places and opportunities,” he said.
“Beyond the direct A$5.3 billion investment to build the airport, state and federal governments have also invested more than A$17 billion in rail and road infrastructure that’s connecting the west to the west and the west to the rest like we’ve never seen before.
“Greater connectivity enables more job opportunities and business growth. In fact, forecasts indicate investment in NSW will be A$96 billion higher by 2063, with A$85 billion of that increased investment in Western Sydney, due to WSI’s development and its related investments.”
WSI’s Plan also forecasts that the airport will be responsible for 6,000-8,500 jobs by the time passenger numbers reach 10mppa in around 2033, presenting meaningful employment opportunities for people living across Western Sydney and beyond.
The airport is built for growth, with plans in place that will eventually see WSI become Sydney’s biggest international airport, handling more than 80 million annual passengers, which is akin to London’s Heathrow airport today.
Quotes from the design and construction team
COX Architecture’s principal and design lead, David Holm, said: “At COX, we’ve always believed in the power of public architecture to shape cities across generations. Few projects align so closely with that mission as this – a new airport, for a new generation.”
Zaha Hadid Architects’ director and design lead, Cristiano Ceccato, said: “This is a rare opportunity to define the next generation of airport design on a global stage. What makes this terminal extraordinary is its blend of human-scaled design and international ambition. It is grounded in its setting – and yet globally competitive.”
Woods Bagot principal and design lead for WSI, Neil Hill, said: “The terminal offers a constantly evolving visual experience and sense of joy as passengers move through the space and experience the intricate detail at a human scale – while elsewhere you might find yourself in a soaring triple-height void with uncluttered panoramic views.”
And Bechtel Infrastructure president, Darren Mort, noted: “This milestone highlights the strength of [the design] partnership: Multiplex’s construction expertise, WSl’s focus on project delivery, operations and passenger experience, and Bechtel’s expertise in the overall construction integration, schedule, and delivery. Together, we’ve delivered a world-class terminal that will open a new chapter in Australian aviation.”