Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport

A growing, future-ready global city needs world-class gateways for domestic and international travellers and freight. The new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport is located approximately 50 km from Sydney’s central business district and is planned to have 24-hour operations, delivering international, domestic and freight services. It is a large, complex project, which includes construction of a new 3,700 m code-F runway and associated taxiways and aprons, a 100,000 m2 terminal building and facilities, airside and landside roads, and all associated utility services.

Location

Sydney, Australia

Project status

Opening 2026

Length of Runway

3.7 km

Expected Passengers Per Year

10 Million

WSP has a long history of supporting growth in Western Sydney, and we are providing numerous services in support of the new airport and surrounding infrastructure.

WSP is the airport’s Independent Certifier for all major design and construction packages. WSP is also leading the Environmental Assessment Package for the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. It is a program of works that includes the environmental, social and economic assessment of the preliminary flightpaths. Around the airport, we are also supporting transport options that will make it accessible, including preparing a Strategic Transport options Study, and Planning and Approvals for the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport Rail Line.

Independent certification provides assurance

WSP’s role as Independent Certifier (IC) involves auditing the project’s quality processes and undertaking reviews to confirm compliance with the requirements stipulated by the Commonwealth, build confidence in outcomes and timely deliverables, and ensure that the design and construction of the infrastructure goes to plan.

We provide assurance to our client that the design and construction of the airport are safe, fit for purpose, provide value for money, and will deliver a lasting service to the community in the rapidly growing region.

We are delivering all of the certification services using our local aviation experts and cross-disciplinary teams. Where specialty services are required, we are working with WSP colleagues in New Zealand, Canada and the UK to support.

Mark Boone Aviation Lead

Mark Boone Aviation Lead

The independent certification services include certification of the bulk earthworks, pavement works, stormwater drainage, road and path networks, ground transport operation facilities, car parks, terminal and specialty works, utilities, maintenance and ancillary buildings, and landside civil and building works.

We are also certifying the network infrastructure and systems integration services to enable the Western Sydney airport to operate as a ‘SMART’ airport.

Assessing draft flight path impacts and engaging with the community

The Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government engaged WSP to work with impacted communities and industry bodies, and coordinate a range of studies investigating aircraft noise, air quality and greenhouse gas, hazards and risks, visual amenity, biodiversity, Aboriginal and historic (non-Aboriginal) heritage, social impacts, economics, health and cumulative impacts. Stakeholders were particularly interested in understanding the impacts on the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The draft EIS, including details on the flight path's strategic needs and context, the complex airspace constraints, and the process of developing them was placed on public exhibition from 24 October 2023 to 31 January 2024. WSP's online community portal facilitated community and stakeholder feedback which will feed into the final EIS report, which will be released by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

The Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport is set to open by late 2026, initially catering for up to 10 million domestic and international passengers annually, providing much-needed aviation capacity to meet the growing demand within the Sydney basin and improving flight accessibility for people in Western Sydney. WSP is proud to be helping to shape the safe, resilient and sustainable infrastructure that will unlock the long-term economic growth and liveability of the region.