Transport and Travel - TRANSPORT ECONOMIST    

Sydney's 2nd Airport Debate

Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Literacy

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Personal and social capability

Cooperative Learning Activity

Background:

The local, state and federal governments have investigated the viability of building a second major airport in Sydney since the 1940s.

Between 1987 and 2000 domestic flights through Sydney more than doubled to nearly 27 million, and international passengers served increased from 8 million to 15 million. The Sydney region passenger demand is forecast to reach 87 million passengers by 2035, more than doubling, and to double again by 2060. Close to half of all scheduled flights in Australia take off or land at Kingsford Smith. In 1998 the airport handled 45 per cent of international passengers in Australia.

The Federal Government has bought most of the required land in a proposed site at Badgerys Creek, west of Sydney. This site would be accessible by the Westlink M7 motorway.

There are currently three proposals for the airport layout, featuring different arrangement of terminals in the centre of the proposed three runways. Despite acquiring almost all the land necessary for the building of the Badgerys Creek airport, and multiple studies and reports commissioned that recommend building the airport, in 1995 new airport leasing legislation was blocked in the Australian Senate, and construction was delayed until after the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Qantas Check-in at Sydney Airport

All the major Australian airlines including Qantas indicated they would prefer additional development of Kingsford-Smith Airport.

In 1998 most local authorities reversed their previous support of the new airport and protested against potential noise and pollution impacts.

After the 2001 terrorist attacks decimated the air travel industry, the national government announced its belief that the current Sydney airport could accommodate additional air travel demands for at least another decade.

Following this, the State Government released land for housing all across Badgerys Creek, effectively eliminating the site as a potential airport.

The issue of a second airport for Sydney arose again after the Rudd government was elected in 2007. Convinced that capacity at the current airport will be exhausted, it sought a new site. It is believed that various options, including a freight-only airport operation, will be considered. Camden, converting part or all of Richmond and Canberra will be investigated for feasibility, while Bankstown and Badgerys Creek, according to sources, will not. (Source: Wikipedia)

What to do:

You are to conduct a debate on the issue of Sydney's 2nd Airport!

The Big Question is: Where should Sydney's 2nd Airport go?

1. Divide into groups of 5 and take on a particular Role or Perspective:

a. Transport Economist
Mayors support 2nd Sydney airport for Central Coast
Sydney's 2nd Airport - a National Issue
Nepean the preferred site for Sydney's second airport

b. Domestic & International Traveller
Plane Talking: 2nd Sydney Airport: Does Barry O’Farrell understand business travel?

c. The Federal Transport Minister
Second Sydney Airport
Plane Talking: 2nd Sydney Airport: Is the next move a ransom demand?
Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan

d. NSW Premier
SMH: Sydney needs a 2nd Airport

e. Airport Owners
Airport says NSW must reject Tralee Plan

2. Using the information in the resources provided, set up a debate. Your teacher will be the facilitator.

OR

You could make a WebQuest around this issue!

Use the same Perspectives - Transport Economist; Traveller; Federal Transport Minister or Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development; NSW Premier and, Airport Owners.

Resources to create a WebQuest:

Quest Garden