Australia: Massive earthworks to start next year on Sydney's second airport

Massive earthworks to prepare the way for Sydney's new airport will begin in the second half of next year as the Turnbull government gives its strongest signal yet that it is preparing to go it alone in the A$6b-plus project. Sydney Airport is widely expected within the next week to turn down the opportunity under its "right of first refusal" to build and operate the new airport at Badgerys Creek in western Sydney. This will heap pressure on the government to show it has alternative plans for constructing and financing the project. Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said the government had undertaken significant work to ensure its timetables for construction would be met if Sydney Airport decides against building the new airport, citing meetings in recent weeks with nine large construction companies as part of the contingency planning. "I am personally very confident that there is strong interest in this project from the construction sector," Fletcher said.<br/>