One of Australia’s most iconic cities is about to embark on a major overhaul of its transport infrastructure, as it prepares to welcome even more foreign visitors.
Sydney is one of the top destinations for tourists in Australia, attracting millions of visitors every year.
Around two million foreign and 36 million domestic visitors flocked to the vibrant city last year.
The capital city of New South Wales boasts of course the country’s most famous cultural icon – the opera house – as well as stunning beaches like Bondi.
Local authorities are now planning to build a second airport to help bring in more visitors, as the city experiences a huge boom in tourism after the lean pandemic years.
Currently, the metropolis is served by one international airport. However, it is facing serious capacity issues.
The new West Sydney Airport will cover an area of 1,780 hectares, or 17.8 million square metres – and cost a cool £2.8bn.
Its construction will be divided into two principal phases, carried out over a number of years.
The first stage will involve building an east-west runway measuring just over two miles long.
A domestic and international terminal that will be able to process 10 million passengers a year will also be constructed.
The terminal will cover an area of 65,000m2 and have a public plaza, shops, restaurants, and cafes.
Additionally, there will be parking facilities with a capacity for 11,500 cars.
The airport will be connected to the local transport network by the M123 motorway, providing easy access for passengers.
Sydney is not the only major city to attract tourist crowds, despite its iconic status.
Melbourne and Brisbane are equally popular and were each visited by around two million foreign tourists in 2023.
Roughly 540,000 Brits visited Australia last year and were the second largest group after New Zealanders (978,000).
