Table of Contents
By Sean Carroll
On the morning of 28/10/2025, Western Sydney entered a new era in aviation. Crowds gathered to watch the Boeing 737 touch down at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport shortly after 8am on Tuesday.
Hawkesbury boasts a proud history in the field of aviation. Just last month, Richmond RAAF Base celebrated its centenary, marking 100 years of operation. In a fitting tribute to this legacy, the first commercial-sized aircraft has now landed and departed from Nancy Bird International Airport. This marks the beginning of a series of test flights scheduled to take place over the next 12 months.
Commissioning Phase and Community Impacts
This next stage will allow the community to observe the tangible impacts ofincreased aircraft activity, particularly aircraft noise. Residents living near the western end of Richmond RAAF Base are already familiar with the sound of jetaircraft, a reality that has intensified over the past decade with the Rural Fire Service operating from the base. The increase in aircraft movements is set to affect broader areas of Western Sydney, including suburbs such as St Marys and Mt Druitt.
Major infrastructure projects supporting the new airport opening, like the M7 upgrade and the new M12 are both due for completion in 2026. However the St Marys rail link, originally scheduled for completion in late 2026, is now projected to open in April 2027.
Environmental Considerations
Despite the optimism, environmental concerns remain at the forefront for many local residents. Western Sydney and the Hawkesbury’s greatest assets are their natural environments, and there is considerable apprehension about the impact of future flight paths. The proximity of the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Warragamba Dam, and Orchard Hills Defence establishment to the new airport exposes these areas to increased aircraft noise.
Susan Templeman MP whose seat of Macquarie represents both the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains Council areas has been actively advocating to mitigate the negative effects of flight path merge points over Hawkesbury.
She has held numerous community engagement sessions to address concerns about aircraft noise and its impact on the Macquarie electorate. Susan Templeman remains committed to addressing daytime noise and other operational issues, while also recognising the potential opportunities for the region, given the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains’ status as home to some of Australia’s most stunning national parks.
Ultimately, only time will reveal both the positive and negative impacts of having Western Sydney linked to the world through the new airport.
