17 April 2014

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has predicted an influx of new residents to Wollondilly and Wingecarribee from an airport at Badgerys Creek.

“This means enormous job opportunities for the northern part of Hume. People will move out of Sydney, chasing the jobs. People will move into the area from other parts of the state, chasing those jobs.”

Mr Taylor said the distance from Badgerys Creek to Oakdale and Picton was just over 40km, and they were quick enough routes to be an attractive daily commute.

“Wollondilly and Wingecarribee are ideally positioned to take advantage of the jobs boom to come. Up to 35,000 jobs are expected to be created in the western Sydney area by 2035, increasing to more than 60,000 by 2060.

“For commuters from Wollondilly and the Southern Highlands these jobs mean they can work closer to home and spend less time commuting.

“There’s great relief that this decision means no airport at Wilton. However I acknowledge there are still serious concerns among residents around The Oaks, Oakdale and Camden and I will be fighting hard to ensure negative impacts are avoided.

“I’ve always felt that Sydney Airport had a lot more capacity and with Badgerys Creek flights still a decade away, it’s important to squeeze as much life as we can out of Kingsford Smith.”