Working with the community and acknowledging Country
Community voices are vital to understanding important local issues. They help to influence decisions that will affect the lives, journeys and neighbourhoods of people in the region now and as the Airport Precinct evolves over the next 30 years.
At the same time Transport acknowledges the deep connection that First Nations people have with Country and the importance of involving them throughout the growth of this new precinct so that their experiences, history, centuries-old culture and stories are represented.
The community's role in shaping the Airport Precinct
The local community in the Airport Precinct and surrounding areas play an important part in how we plan, build and shape transport in the new precinct.
We’re active in the Airport Precinct community and regularly connect with key members including First Nations elders, leaders, peak bodies and advocacy groups to hear what they have to say.
Local perspectives on what Transport is doing in the Airport Precinct are critical to identify alternative ways to achieve better community-led outcomes. This will help us deliver road safety and congestion improvements across the precinct – key concerns that have been raised by locals in the area.
We always want to hear from our community. You can get in touch via the Contact us tile below or find out what’s happening in the Airport Precinct by visiting our interactive map.
We have also launched a new community hub, Transport's Community Space for the Western Sydney Airport Precinct. Community members, residents and the public can visit this hub and have their say on Airport Precinct projects that are open for public consultation. You can explore the hub via the button below, or go directly to the consultation project page to read more and provide your feedback.
Importance of community
Putting the transport needs of our passengers, customers and the public first
Feedback and insights help to shape the design of city-building transport infrastructure
Involvement helps to deliver maximum benefits to residents, workers, business and families now and in the future
Early engagement and ongoing transparency is critical to incorporate feedback and actively address concerns or opportunities
Managing construction and prioritising safety
Construction impacts can be tough on local communities living near project work underway
We aim to minimise impacts by coordinating across projects and with our partners to keep the community safe, alert and supported as development and delivery continues
To find out more about Transport’s Be Truck Aware campaign, visit Be Truck Aware | Transport for NSW
Stay up to date by registering your interest via project websites
Advance notice of noisy works is done via livetraffic, social media, notifications and door knocks.
Connecting to Country in the Airport Precinct
All Transport projects start with Country. Many roads, railways, waterways and future corridors follow traditional Songlines, trade routes and ceremonial paths used by First Nations peoples.
As the Airport Precinct evolves we’re using the principles of OCHRE (Opportunity, Choice, Healing, Responsibility and Empowerment) to create environmental, social, cultural and economic benefits for all members of local community, while enabling First Nations people to maintain their spiritual links to Country.
Work is continuing to preserve Aboriginal heritage items and areas of cultural significance in the Airport Precinct. Country will be celebrated and incorporated in building design and naming, movement networks, language, road names, artwork, knowledge sharing and conservation of sacred areas and heritage items.
Recognising Country along the M12 corridor
A local Dharug Dreaming story, the Great Emu in the Sky, is a 30-metre-high installation enshrined along the M12 corridor symbolising the interconnectedness between People, Culture and Country – a ‘Welcome to Country’ for international tourists, visitors and commuters complemented by traditional artwork such as Emu Footprints on Country and Eucalypt leaf canopies.
Aboriginal heritage in the Airport Precinct
Transport recognises the natural environments and rich indigenous history and heritage in the Airport Precinct including stories and spiritual spaces. Ropes Creek, Badgerys Creek, Thompsons Creek and Wianamatta–South Creek were important meeting places and sources of nutrition for Aboriginal communities. Our work in soil conservation as well as native seed collection and propagation for our projects, are some of the ways we aim to preserve the landscape and recognise cultural heritage.
M12 Motorway Aboriginal narrative - Retelling the Six Seasons
In this short video, we share how we'll be retelling the 'six seasons' story as part of our M12 project. You can also learn about the different plants and animals throughout each season by visiting our gallery. Credit: M12 project team.