The " Too Hard " basket !

Selecting a site for Sydney's second airport was consigned to the " too hard " basket several years ago.  Once again it has arisen to haunt politicians as the latest report on " Sydney's future aviation needs " is nearing release.

The options facing Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese are daunting.  It seems to be a choice between taking unpopular measures to extend the life of Kingsford-Smith airport at Mascot, or biting the bullet and deciding where a new secondary airport will be located.

The big decision seems to be whether to please both the aviation and the tourist industries - and keep this second airport within the Sydney basin, or to go with the " big picture " scenario and locate it as far away as Goulburn and connect it to Sydney by a very fast train.

The " Sydney basin "  option resurrects just two possible sites - Wilton or Badgery's Creek, and both of these will inflict airport noise of vast surrounding areas.  No doubt the politicians will try and nullify expected opposition by promising that as aircraft become bigger, hence fewer will be needed to carry more passengers - engine developments are making them progressively quieter.

Despite denials, Kingsford-Smith is bursting at the seams.  The only way to expand landing and takeoff numbers is to dump the night noise curfew and extend the cap on eighty movements per hour - and that would mean breaking promises and enraging a vast number of Sydney residents.

In the past, this " hot potato " has been flick passed back for further evaluation by both sides of politics.  Nobody seems inclined to take the flak that goes with a firm decision, and that looks likely to be the scenario again - this time around.

The most likely outcome will be tinkering with the rules governing the use of Kingsford-Smith - to gain a little more elbow room in movement numbers.    That will also play well with regional politics.   Both Melbourne and Brisbane are keen to see the limits on Sydney airport maintained, because it helps their " International airport " status.

Regional jealousy exists - and it rankles our two sister states that when international visitors opt to come to Australia - Sydney is automatically their choice of destination, because of the harbour/bridge/opera house mental picture that springs to mind.

Once more - the " too hard " basket beckons !