Airport merge point announcement welcomed

Monday, 9 May 2016

Council welcomes an announcement that the proposed merge point directing all aircraft flying into the new Western Sydney Airport above Blaxland and then Penrith has been scrapped.

Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown said one of Council's key recommendations to the Environmental Impact Statement process was that all alternative flight paths, particularly alternative locations for merge points be assessed to minimise environmental impacts and provide a more equitable distribution of noise.

"Council's position has always been that the airport must deliver maximum benefits and minimum impacts for the community and we have voiced this strongly to all levels of government," Cr McKeown said.

"We will continue to push for an airport that delivers significant benefits for our community, and this includes passenger rail connecting the airport and the Western Sydney region to the North and South.

"The North South rail link would transform western Sydney, reshape our region and deliver jobs closer to home," Cr McKeown said.

"With the right investment we can be more competitive nationally and globally and create new business and employment opportunities.

"Rail will re-shape the region and be followed by new town centres and jobs within 30 minutes of where workers live."

For Council's full submission to the EIS see our Western Sydney Airport page.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Monday, 9 May 2016.