Western Sydney International Airport opens after 80 years of debate and protests

The long-awaited Western Sydney International Airport has finally opened, marking the end of an 80-year journey to bring a second major airport to Sydney. The airport's first passenger flight took off on Sunday, with transport enthusiast Matthew Hayes among the excited passengers.

A dream come true

For Matthew Hayes, the 20-year-old transport enthusiast, the first passenger flight taking off on Sunday from the newly built Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) is a dream come true. Hayes has been looking forward to a second major airport in Sydney since he was a child.

"I used to go with my mother down to the site of the [Badgerys Creek] airport. Back then it was just paddocks and hills, and livestock grazing along the way," he said.

Hayes was one of the trial passengers who tested the airport's new systems two months ago, alongside 80-year-old Kevin Appleby.

80 years in the making

The idea of a second Sydney airport has been debated for decades, with various locations proposed and rejected over the years. The search for a site began in the wake of World War II, with potential locations ranging from as far north as Wyong to as far south as Goulburn.

In 1964, a NSW government study recommended Towra Point in Botany Bay. However, the proposal attracted community opposition, and the site was eventually ruled out.

In 1973, the government selected Galston in north-west Sydney as the second airport's location. However, protesters rallied against the plan, and the government reversed its decision less than a year later.

"Don't pave paradise" and "No airport" were among the slogans carried by protesters in Baulkham Hills.

The issue continued to be debated, with various committees and studies making conflicting recommendations. It wasn't until 1986 that the Hawke government selected Badgerys Creek as the site for the second airport.

Protests and controversy

Regular protests against the project continued over the years, fuelled by noise and environmental concerns. Carolyn Wong's family has lived in Luddenham for 70 years and has been protesting against the airport for the majority of that time.

"I was allowed to take the day off school to go down to Canberra and protest, that was over 50 years ago," she said.

Despite the controversy, the airport has been built, with a capacity to move 1.8 million tonnes of cargo and 10 million passengers annually.

A new era for Western Sydney

The airport's opening marks a new era for Western Sydney, with seven passenger-carrying airlines already signed up, including Qantas, Jetstar, Air New Zealand, and Qatar Airways.

However, some locals still oppose the airport, citing concerns about noise and the lack of infrastructure to support it.

"It makes me sad that the airport is about to fully open; it really is the end of an era and our lives as we know it," said Ms Wong.

The airport's opening is a significant milestone, but it also marks the beginning of a new chapter for Western Sydney, with both opportunities and challenges ahead.