Description
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) is a transformational infrastructure project designed to meet the growing aviation demand in the Sydney basin. It will support international, domestic, and air cargo services, and is a catalyst for ongoing regional transformation through job creation, economic growth, and enhanced opportunities.
The airport features a single 3.7km runway, terminal, and airport facilities and is capable of handling up to 10 million passengers annually, with future expansions planned to accommodate up to 82 million passengers per year in the 2060s.
The Stage 1 Cargo Works Package represents a significant investment in the airport's operational future, delivering the essential infrastructure required to support domestic and international cargo handling and logistics operations. Delivery of the project included site preparation, construction of cargo facilities, airfield and landside infrastructure, utility installations, and technology integration, culminating in a fully tested and commissioned operational asset.
Acknowledgments
People:
We extend our thanks to Western Sydney Airport Corporation and Aurecon Arcadis Joint Venture
Suppliers:
We would like to thank Vital Chemical and Stratex for working with us to drive sustainable outcomes and pioneer innovation.
Testimonial (Senior Management Member)
Use of the IS Rating tool on the Western Sydney Airport Stage 1 Cargo Project allowed us to set up the project for success on sustainability outcomes early, by providing a framework and systems to ensure initiatives, goals and targets were embedded into the construction process from the start.
The tool also allowed us to capture all the great work that all disciplines do across a construction project that contribute to a positive sustainability outcome, that may not have otherwise been recognised.
– Kimberley Purkiss, CPB Acciona Joint Venture Environment and Sustainability Manager, WSA Stage 1 Cargo Project.
Rating Highlights
| Category | Credits | Achievements |
| Water | Wat-2 | 77.57% replacement of water consumption with non-potable water |
| Energy | Ene-1 | A 25.04% reduction in GHG emissions, equating to 16,917.39 tCO2-e. |
| Community Health and Wellbeing | Hea-1 | Achieving strong workforce outcomes: 61% of the workforce are locally employed; 21% of the workforce comprises women in non-traditional roles, socially and economically disadvantaged people, and people with a disability; 2.71% indigenous workforce participation; and 4% of contracts have been awarded to Indigenous businesses. |
Verified Innovations
| Name | Innovation Type | Description |
| Slipform Paving | First innovative technology or process – Australia first | Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport’s (WSI) Airside Cargo works Stage 1 (CW1) Project used slip form concrete paving, which was used for the first time in Australian aviation as part of CPB Contractors and Acciona’s delivery of WSI’s Airside Civil and Pavements package. This innovative method involves an automated process that efficiently lays long stretches of concrete using a machine that continuously shapes and pours the concrete, ensuring a smooth and consistent finish. The technique was applied to cover 131,999 square meters with 57,315 cubic meters of concrete, representing 90% of all concrete pavement on the project.
Slip form paving offers significant advantages over traditional methods, including increased speed, efficiency, and precision. Overcoming challenges such as the required pavement thickness and strength for airport use, the project team developed a specialised concrete mix, conducted risk assessments, and performed multiple paving trials. Environmental benefits include reducing material consumption by avoiding temporary steel forms. Energy efficiency was enhanced through improved haulage, and reduced equipment needs, lowering fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Economically, the efficiency gains led to substantial time and cost savings by increasing production rates and decreasing workforce requirements while creating a safer work environment by reducing manual handling and equipment interactions. |
| Vital Chemical Super Clear Extra | First innovative technology or process – Australia first | Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport’s (WSI) CW1 project navigated challenging water treatment conditions due to highly dispersive clay soils, which complicate managing water turbidity. To address this, the CPB ACCIONA Joint Venture collaborated with Vital Chemical and Innovate Enviro to develop a bespoke water treatment product tailored to the site, which was verified as an Innovation on the Airside Civil and Pavements package for representing a first in Australian construction practices.
The innovative solution, named Vital Super Clear Extra, combines chitosan (a bio-polymer flocculant) and Aluminium Chlorohydrate (a coagulant). This unique Australian first blend was formulated to manage the dispersive clay soils and large-scale sediment basins at the airport site, providing superior water quality, faster treatment times, and reduced flocculant usage. Vital Super Clear Extra significantly reduces turbidity, facilitates rapid water treatment, and minimises packaging waste. The product's efficiency enables quicker water discharge, enhancing the project's ability to manage rainfall and reducing potential delays. The swift treatment process minimises construction downtime, ensuring project timelines are maintained with minimal disruption. Additionally, the solution is cost-effective, cutting down on the need for mechanical mixing and lowering overall treatment costs. By expediting water discharge, the product helps resume construction activities promptly after rainfall, optimising project efficiency. |
| Recycled Silt Socks | First innovative technology or process – Australia first | Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport’s (WSI) ACP Stage 1 Project implemented Recycled Silt Socks as an innovative erosion and sediment control solution manufactured entirely from recycled materials, including reclaimed banner mesh and recycled aggregate. This was first verified as an innovation on the Southern Program Alliance – Level Crossings Removal Project in March 2024. Installed throughout the project to prevent sediment-laden runoff from entering stormwater systems and waterways, the silt socks provided an effective environmental protection measure while supporting circular economy principles. Compared to traditional silt socks, the recycled alternative diverts waste from landfill, reduces demand for virgin materials, and offers a longer service life, reducing replacement and maintenance requirements. The product also delivers social value through its manufacture by social enterprise partner Assembled Threads, creating employment opportunities for individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. |