Western Sydney workers and small businesses are the big winners as construction of Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport enters its second year.
Western Sydney Airport Chief Executive Officer Graham Millett said $37 million from the Early Earthworks contract had been invested locally since construction began on 24 September 2018.
“That’s $37 million of subcontracts to 24 businesses across Western Sydney – from Narellan to Norwest, Blacktown to Bringelly,” Mr Millett said.
“These are local businesses, including several Indigenous businesses, delivering the equipment and services we need to build Sydney’s new airport, whether it’s concrete pumping, plumbing, fencing, demolition or plant equipment supplies.
“We know the flow-on effects of this economic stimulus go much further when it comes to boosting the local economy and this will increase significantly once major earthworks begin in early 2020.”
Mr Millett said WSA is exceeding all of its employment targets for local, Indigenous and learning workers.
“Local workers currently make up more than 50 per cent of the total workforce at Western Sydney Airport, almost double our construction phase target of 30 per cent,” Mr Millett said.
“Every day, tens of thousands of Western Sydney workers leave the region for work, spending hours commuting.
“This project will be a game-changer for people from Western Sydney who want to work closer to home and have more time to spend with their families, not just in the construction phase, but for many decades to come.
“It will create thousands of jobs during construction and even more when the Airport opens.
“Western Sydney International will be the catalyst for the transformation of the region, creating jobs closer to where people live and delivering the infrastructure needed to make a growing Western Sydney an even better place to live and do business.”
Mr Millett said it is early days for Airport construction and the size of the project’s workforce will ramp-up considerably.
“As someone who grew up in Western Sydney, I’m proud to be delivering an Airport that is already creating so many opportunities for locals.”
From 2026 when the Airport opens, WSA will have a target of 50 per cent local employment.
WSA Workforce as at June 30, 2019:
Workers | Target (%) | Achieved (%) |
Learning | 20% | 34% |
Diversity (Indigenous) | 10% (2.4%) | 32% (3%) |
Local | 30% | 54% |
