Major earthworks

The Major Earthworks contract was awarded to CPB Contractors and Lend Lease Joint Venture (CPBLL JV) in August 2019. On 9 September 2020 Acciona completed the acquisition of Lendlease Engineering and as such the Major Earthworks Contractor is now referred to as CPB Contractors and Acciona (CPBACC JV)

The major earthworks stage involves significant design and construction responsibilities, including moving around 25 million cubic meters of earth to support construction of the major elements of the airport, such as the runway and terminal.

WSA and its contractors are committed to keeping the community and other stakeholders informed about the earthworks project as it progresses. We welcome your feedback on this project and our other activities. Please make contact with our community team as per the contact details below.

What's happening?

June 2022

Over the past few months, the following progress has been achieved:

Relocated site offices to the southwestern end of the site, unlocking the remaining parcel of earthworks to be completed
Relocated the Badgerys Creek Road and Pitt Street round-a-bout and added an additional 'leg' to create a new site access
Placed over 2.4 million cubic metres of imported sandstone from tunnelling projects across Sydney to prepare the foundation of the site
Completed 48% of permanent landscaping
Completed over 1.8 million square metres of spray seal on the runway and taxiways ready for the Airside Civil and Pavements team to begin asphalt and concrete paving over the top later this year
Installed over 22 kilometres of internal fencing to separate the different work packages

Ongoing construction activities include:

Importation of recycled sandstone material. This material is sourced from the WestConnex and Sydney Metro Projects and is repurposed across the site in a sustainability partnership between the projects. The high-quality sandstone is used as a supportive layer under the runway and taxiways
Water treatment and water discharging activities. Excess rainwater captured in one of fifteen temporary water basins located around the site is treated and discharged off site. Where possible the captured water is used for dust suppression on the site.
Major earthworks across the Airport site. This involves taking earth from the peaks to fill the low points to level the site ready for construction
Installation of permanent airport drainage across the site
Ongoing surveying of site is undertaken to ensure each layer of earth is at the correct level
Permanent landscaping - topsoil stockpiled in the early stages of the Major Earthworks project is now being respread around different parts of the project, which will form the base to grow vegetation
Heavy machinery maintenance is carried out in two workshops, as well as in the field around the site