The " Indecision " Solution !

For many decades the site for a new Sydney airport has been mired in controversy.  Mascot is bursting at the seams and it appears that an " interim measure " will be introduced to ease the pressure.  Passenger overload will be handled by the RAAF base at Richmond.

This neatly side steps the need to make a decision between Badgery's Creek and Wilton.   The basic airport structure is in place and functional just sixty kilometres from Sydney.  Subtle pressure will be applied to get the RAAF to reduce operations at Richmond and money will be spent creating a " temporary " passenger terminal.  As a result, that Badgery's/Wilton decision will never arise.   The solution to Sydney's airport problems has been solved - by the very nature of " indecision " !

It is probably an inevitable outcome, given the state of our finances.  New airports come with billion dollar price tags and an existing airport can be upgraded for a lot less money.  It will also serve the fast growing north coast region and the existing road system in place can handle an airport with less need for expansion than an entirely new system as would apply at either Badgery's or Wilton.

There will probably be squawks of protest from the defence people, but the needs of the RAAF have changed.  The days of massed squadrons of aircraft have been surpassed by incredibly sophisticated small numbers of fighter planes that serve multiple functions.  Distance is no longer the limitation that it used to be and Richmond is home to the RAAF's heavy lift aircraft rather than combat aircraft.

The biggest gain is political.    The main reason the site of a new Sydney airport was not settled was the expected backlash that could cost seats in parliament.   We are now entering a " pretend " scenario.  Richmond will be presented as simply an interim solution and it is unlikely that passenger planes will start using it before 2017.     When they do, the flow will be a mere trickle and the facilities upgrade with keep step with the natural increase in passenger numbers to be accommodated.

The timing is also superb.   The new Sydney airport problem has been solved just months away from a Federal election, and using Richmond will not generate the furore that either Badgery's or Wilton would have created.     That is a solution that will serve both sides of politics equally !