A new ‘aerotropolis’ is at the heart of an ambitious plan to transform Western Sydney by driving its economic growth through massive infrastructure development. To be delivered by all three levels of government – federal, state and local – the Western Sydney City Deal was announced by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull along with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and eight local council mayors.

The 20-year $20-billion plan, which includes a new airport, an aerospace institute and a North-South rail link, aims to boost the economic development of the region, create new infrastructure and support job creation with the local population expected to touch three million by the 2030s.

The proposed airport at Badgerys Creek will be adjacent to the fully-integrated aerotropolis, described as an ‘advanced manufacturing, research, medical, education and commercial hub’. The Western Sydney Airport will be funded by a $5.3 billion investment from the federal government and will provide for 20,000 new jobs in the region. The $7 billion North-South rail link that connects St Mary’s to Badgerys Creek through the new airport will be completed and operational before the airport opens in 2026.

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian said the City Deal was about “putting Western Sydney on the map globally”.

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue chairman Christopher Brown underlined the importance of the North-South link, which connected cities in the south-west and north-west to Badgerys Creek Airport. The rail link and the West Metro transportation projects are important for generating jobs, improving liveability, increasing housing affordability and reducing congestion in the region, he added.