This is a key milestone ahead of the airport's opening in 2026 and comes after extensive community engagement, including more than 50 in person and online community information sessions across Greater Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
The WSI airspace and flight paths will now proceed to the detailed design stage, to be led by Airservices Australia. Subject to approval of airspace changes and validation of instrument flight procedures by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the flight paths will be implemented in time for the airport to open in 2026.
To ensure flight paths have the lowest possible impact on the community, Airservices Australia will be directed to prioritise the use of runway operations to and from the southwest at night where possible, to minimise aircraft overflight of residential areas.
Other new measures include:
- an Environmental Monitoring Program to monitor potential impacts of aircraft noise on local fauna and First Nations cultural sites in the Greater Blue Mountains, and;
- the establishment of a community engagement forum, bringing together community members and stakeholders to provide feedback on the impacts of aircraft noise.
A Noise Insulation and Property Acquisition program to support those residents most impacted by aircraft overflight noise at WSI is set to open later this year.
