19 September 2008
Preliminary Draft Master Plan Released for Public Comment
Sydney Airport has released the Preliminary Draft Master Plan 2009 for public consultation.
The plan updates Sydney Airport's existing approved Master Plan 2003/04 and outlines the vision for the operation and development of Australia's leading airport to the year 2029.
Like the 2003/04 Master Plan before it, the Preliminary Draft Master Plan 2009 is based on:
- No changes to the curfew
- No changes to flight paths
- No changes to the aircraft movement cap
- No new runways
- No change to access arrangements for regional airlines
Sydney Airport is one of Australia's most important pieces of transport infrastructure. It makes a substantial economic contribution to Sydney and NSW directly generating more than 75,000 full-time and part-time jobs. In fulfilling its vital transport role the right balance must be struck between the economic and social benefits that Sydney Airport delivers and its environmental impacts.
Passenger numbers are forecast to gradually increase by an average of 4.2% each year - the same growth rate used in the 2003/04 Master Plan. This will see the airport serving 78.9 million passengers in 2029, up from the 68.3 million in 2023-24 forecast in the existing approved 2003-04 Master Plan.
Aircraft movements for scheduled passenger operations are forecast to gradually increase by an average of 2.0% per year – a lower growth rate than the 2.4% used in the 2003/04 Master Plan. This will see the airport handling 402,000 such aircraft movements in 2029, up from the 377,650 forecast for 2023-24 in the existing approved 2003/04 Master Plan.
The average number of passengers per flight is forecast to increase to 198 in 2029, up from 97 passengers per flight in 2000 and an increase on the forecast of 176 passengers per flight in 2023.
The CEO of Sydney Airport, Russell Balding, said that the Preliminary Draft Master Plan shows how Sydney Airport will sustainably manage the forecast growth in airline travel.
"Airport facilities including terminals, hangars, aprons, freight facilities, car parking and airport roads will all be progressively upgraded over the next 20 years.
"Technological innovation across the aviation industry will also help to drive environmental improvements. The global fleet of commercial aircraft is undergoing significant technological innovation and environmental improvements.
"Importantly, the forecast noise footprint for Sydney Airport in 2029 has been reduced relative to that forecast for 2024. This is because new aircraft are larger, quieter, cleaner and more fuel efficient, a trend that will continue over the next 20 years.
"The A380 is already flying from Sydney Airport and the Boeing 787 will be introduced into service in the next couple of years. These aircraft will be significantly quieter than the aircraft they replace.
"Governments are also considering upgrades to the M4 and M5 motorways, along with new bus services and more frequent trains. New infrastructure and public transport services will make it easier for people to travel to and from Sydney Airport," Mr Balding said.
Sydney Airport's Master Plan is a planning tool that is prepared to meet the legislative requirements of the Airports Act 1996. The Master Plan must be reviewed and updated every five years.
The Preliminary Draft Master Plan 2009 can be downloaded from www.sydneyairport.com and will be available for public inspection at various local libraries in areas around Sydney Airport. Public comments must be submitted by 16 December 2008.
After comments on the Preliminary Draft Master Plan have been considered a Draft Master Plan will be submitted to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government for his consideration.
