Sydney's Second Airport

[Nigel C]

I'm sorry, I don't buy the expand Richmond or expand Camden theories.

Can someone tell me where they expect them to expand to?

[Nigel C]

Originally Posted by Adam P.

The taxi from the Foxtrot bays to the departure end of 34R is already about 6km... you might as well drive the aeroplane all the way to your destination!

6kms?

I did the Bay 1 T3 to Tango-6 run a few years ago in the car to see how long that was...it only came to around 6kms folloing standard taxi routes.

I'll measure the Foxtrot bays tomorrow night if I get a chance.

[Adam P.]

I'll measure the Foxtrot bays tomorrow night if I get a chance.

Make sure you go from the NEW F16... it's the furthest away....

[Nigel C]

Doing it from the 'old' F16 could be diifficult...I believe they might be expanding the demolition zone for the old Ansett Hangar 83 tonight. They only have the hangar entrance part to go...

In fact, I'll also try to do one from Bay 50 at T1. I think that might be the longest route of them all. Execujet to Tango-6 might also be a contender.

[Justin L]

Originally Posted by Nigel C

I'm sorry, I don't buy the expand Richmond or expand Camden theories.

Can someone tell me where they expect them to expand to?

I can't comment on Camden but regarding Richmond, would the existing runway be suitable for aircraft up to at least B737/A320-type sizes? If so, and Richmond is used as a secondary airport, then the current single runway could be sufficient. Regarding terminal and car parking etc., isn't there enough land at the moment to accommodate this? Car parking could be multi-level to reduce the footprint. I've only been to Richmond base once for an air show a couple of years ago, but there seemed to be a fair bit of land around there (and as per my post I am assuming any denfence force issues can be resolved). Otherwise you could maybe run the Richmond-Windsor road and the railway line underground and buyout the Hawkesbury racecourse to use that land for airport facilities, and relocate the regional racecourse elsewhere.

[Kurt A]

Traffic at YSSY still on the increase...

Sydney airport recorded a 6.1 per cent increase in passenger traffic during March to 2.8 million, with domestic traffic up seven per cent to 1.9 million and international traffic up 4.2 per cent to 894,000.

[damien b]

From news.com.au

The Federal Government is convinced capacity at Sydney airport will soon be exhausted and has dumped forecasts that there was no foreseeable need for another site.

It wants the second airport to be outside the Sydney basin and will review options from Newcastle to the Southern Highlands and inland.

An official decision will be made after the release next year of the first ever white paper - a comprehensive government discussion document - on Australia's aviation future.

Part of the white paper will cover planning for second airports at capital cities.

However, The Daily Telegraph has learned the Government is already convinced that Sydney will have to have a second major airport, and soon, even if only for freight services and has started canvassing options.

The options include building at Camden, converting part or all of RAAF Richmond or developing Canberra International Airport or its nearby towns as passenger and freight terminals.

Sources said there would not be a second airport at Badgerys Creek, and that Bankstown would not be expanded to take up the secondary role.

The move is understood to have the support of a senior executive at Qantas.

The Government has been told that aircraft noise is certain to increase over inner Sydney, and spread to other suburbs unless another airport is found.

It has long been Labor policy to establish a second airport and this is the first chance to carry out the policy in government.

The official quest for a second airport began in 1964 when it was predicted that Sydney airport would be at capacity by 1980.

The previous Coalition government rejected the argument that work had to start soon on a second airport and in 2005 endorsed a review that said Mascot would be able to cope with more traffic to the end of the decade.

The Coalition went further and said changes, such as bigger aircraft, meant a second airport would not be needed for the foreseeable future.

It backed a "master plan" which said Mascot could cope for another 20 years.

In December 2003, the then transport minister John Anderson said that "following exhaustive examination it is clear the existing airport at Mascot will be able to handle air traffic demands for a long time to come".

As i have said on the old board, i doubt RAAF Richmond would be a suitable location due to fog, space and heritage building restrictions, but Camden may be if they can get trains out there, although it is within the basin which seems to be an undesirable location for the second airport.

[Steve Jones]

Canberra's a good freight option - no curfew, and you can send trucks up and down the Federal/Hume Highways to Sydney. Dual carriageways the whole way.

[Bernie P]

Originally Posted by damien b

From news.com.au

As i have said on the old board, i doubt RAAF Richmond would be a suitable location due to fog, space and heritage building restrictions, but Camden may be if they can get trains out there, although it is within the basin which seems to be an undesirable location for the second airport.

But doesn't Camden still suffer from fog as well??? If my ageing memory serves me correct from my Uni days out there it did (or was it the very late nights in the dorms reading and prepong for the following days presentations and I was foggy??)

[Kent Broadhead]

In a number of ways Canberra seems like a good option - but aren't suburban developments already seeing it with a curfew in future?

Bring on the VFT!!

Kent