The Federal Department of Infrastructure and Development has released the Western Sydney Airport draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for public exhibition.
Mayor of Penrith City Council, Councillor Karen McKeown, said in a statement that the public has not been given enough time to consider the EIS.
“I consider the 60 day exhibition period inadequate to address the level of detail involved and the impacts an airport may have – this airport has already been with successive governments for decades.
“The draft EIS is approximately 4000 pages. Penrith Council has been calling for a minimum of 90 days to respond to the draft EIS.”
Cr McKeown said the airport must be properly accessible for it to advantage residents.
“For Western Sydney and Penrith residents to benefit as a result of the airport construction and operation, it needs to be fully integrated and connected with the region – through road and rail. This will stimulate jobs growth beyond the airport.
“We also want to see that our natural environment and the amenity of our community is protected.
“The EIS must accurately address environmental and social impacts to ensure the health and wellbeing of our community is maintained and our beautiful natural environment protected. A key issue is how noise is to be effectively managed, this is not negotiable.”
Penrith City Council, along with neighbouring Western Sydney Councils (WSROC and MACROC) have appointed an independent team of experts to go over the EIS to inform their submission in response to the report.
