Breaking News
Locked in holding pattern
Tuesday 22 April, 2008 9:01am
THE Federal Government won't build a second Sydney airport at Badgerys Creek but it can't say what it will do with the land either.
Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said last week the government was committed to building a second airport in Sydney, but the Badgerys Creek site which the government owned was inappropriate.
Mr Albanese released an aviation discussion paper earlier this month
A white paper (a policy paper), setting out a comprehensive two-decade plan for aviation, would be available in mid-2009.
Despite Labor policy being against a Badgerys Creek airport, it still won't release the land until at least next year when the aviation plan is released.
Prospect Federal Labor MP and Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen said the government was "working through options at the moment."
"It's a big site and you don't dispose of a big site quickly," he said.
When the former Howard Government decided last year to keep the site until another second-airport review was carried out, Mr Bowen admonished them for not selling the land.
"This is bad news for families in the area who are looking to build a new home or set up a business," Mr Bowen said in March last year. However, Mr Bowen said recently that Labor's policy not to build an airport was the difference.
"In that case they were holding on to the land as a possible airport site. We have ruled out any airport there at all," he said.
The government's decision to hold on to the site comes as the NSW Urban Taskforce which represents property developers and equity financiers has been lobbying the Rudd Government to build the airport at Badgerys Creek.
"Now is the time ... to proceed with the second Sydney airport at Badgerys Creek and preserve Sydney's status as a world city and international gateway to Australia," taskforce chief executive Aaron Gadiel said.
Mr Bowen said the taskforce's campaign would have "zero effect, zero interest" on the government's policy.
Western Sydney Regional Organistaion of Councils executive director Alex Gooding said he welcomed the no airport commitment but it was time for the government to release the land.
"I would have hoped that they would have been able to reach a conclusion about the future of the land sooner than indicated," he said.
Fairfield Mayor Nick Lalich said a commitment from the Federal Government as to the future use of the land would bring the matter to a conclusion.
Comment was sought from Mr Albanese but he did not reply before deadline.
He also avoided answering a direct question on the future of the site at the Community Cabinet in Penrith last Tuesday.
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