Western Sydney Airport has awarded a contract to carry out major earthworks to a joint venture between Lend Lease and CPB Contractors on the 1st of September. Work under the contract will begin in early 2020 and is set to create hundreds of jobs across the 1780-hectare site. Western Sydney Airport CEO Graham Millett said that at least 30 percent of jobs during the construction phase will go to Western Sydney locals, with that figure increasing to 50 percent when the Airport opens. In addition, 20 percent of jobs must go to apprentices, trainees and other learning workers.
On the 2nd September, Luddenham had its biggest ever group of political leaders including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack MP, Senator Mathias Cormann, Alan Tudge MP, Angus Taylor MP, Melissa McIntosh MP, and Stuart Ayres MP for the opening of the Western Sydney Airport Experience Centre here in Luddenham. Students from local schools participated – including Chloe and Bella from Luddenham Public School who helped with the first official raising of the Australian, NSW and Aboriginal flags.
Western Sydney Airport Experience Centre is designed in conjunction with the local landscape. The Centre will guide visitors through an exhibition space before opening to a viewing area where they will be able to see airport construction underway. The viewing area is also equipped with augmented reality, allowing visitors to view how the terminal and runway will look and where they will be positioned. The Centre will feature interactive digital videos including the history of the region, the importance of the airport to Western Sydney and the massive economic benefits. Currently the Western Sydney Airport Experience Centre is open Monday to Thursday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Hopefully they will be extended soon. Also, on the site in Eaton Road, Western Sydney Airport Co has also built office space for 100 workers that will now work out of Luddenham as work on the Airport increases.
Luddenham lost another house (Sunnyside) as the new Northern Road alignment is now evident. This once belonged to the Roots Family and another part of our history is now gone.
If you have an opinion on what Luddenham of the future should be like, please email your thoughts or views to willmingtons@bigpond.com.