After spending $1.5 million on its latest report on Wilton, which comprehensively dismisses the location as unsuitable for a large international airport, federal infrastructure and transport minister Anthony Albanese has responded swiftly – by announcing yet another report into Wilton, at an undetermined cost.
There have been more than 20 reports over the years into a site for Sydney’s second airport, most of which have recommended Badgery’s Creek, where the Commonwealth Government already owns the land. None of the reports recommend Wilton over Badgery’s Creek, and Wilton appears on the reports as a second choice owing only to its relatively sparse population.
Upon releasing the technical study into Wilton’s [lack of] suitability as a second Sydney airport, which also explored the use of RAAF Base Richmond for limited civil operations, Mr Albanese wasted no time in announcing yet another report.
“The study concludes that the development of an airport at Wilton is possible, but would involve environmental and engineering challenges,” Mr Albanese said.
“The challenges are not insurmountable but we do need to better understand their scale and scope.”
In response to the technical study, the government will:
Conduct geotechnical analysis of the Wilton site to determine the impact mining subsidence could have on an airport development; and Commence discussions to explore the possibility of opening up RAAF Base Richmond to civil aviation.
The report has added a real danger of subsidence of airport land due to mining to the obstacles already identified relating to the Wilton site (such as endangering flora and fauna, contamination of drinking water supplies, an unsuitable terrain, lack of transport access and excessive distance from Sydney proper), it is hard to see how a geotechnical analysis of the Wilton site will improve it.
Like a dog with a bone, Mr Albanese refuses to give up on Wilton, instead of just getting on with the process of building the airport at Badgery’s Creek. While taxpayers sit, wait and watch the millions going down the consultants’ drain, Mr Albanese continues to find new ways to delay action.
Some in the Sydney press have suggested that the new report is just a diversion to delay a decision until after the 14 September federal election. They may just be right.
The latest Wilton report is available at www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/scopingstudy/index.aspx.
