"We are very concerned about reports that the Badgerys Creek Environmental Impact Statement released late last year was incorrect and incomplete." said Blue Mountains Unions Council President Kerry Cooke today.
"As Unionists we welcome the opportunity presented for new jobs in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains but not at any cost. The EIS has raised more questions than it has answered." he said.
Mr Cooke encouraged Blue Mountains and Western Sydney residents to take every opportunity to inform themselves of all the possible effects of Badgerys Creek airport and to question local candidates about their positions.
"We've recently seen the shocking exploitation of foreign workers in several industries.
Workers and the local economy need reliable incomes to prosper, not more underemployment."
"No doubt many locals are looking forward to improved infrastructure that should come with the airport. The Federal Government has only recently committed to high speed rail connecting Badgerys Creek, Parramatta and the Sydney CBD being built in time for a 2026 opening of the airport instead of 2040.
Will the high speed rail be owned and operated by the public sector or will it be a copy of the expensive and privately owned Sydney Airport link? We'll be sharing the existing roads and rail with the people and freight the airport will bring into Western Sydney.
Will the needs of residents as well as those of airport passengers and workers be served? What other infrastructure is planned? We've seen many infrastructure plans promised then shelved over the years. Will the infrastructure promised ever progress beyond the planning stage?
"It's also been reported that the planes will mostly carry domestic passengers and freight. Has high speed rail as an alternative been properly considered?"
"Local workers and business people treasure our Mountains' communities and World Heritage Area. It's our home and for many of us it's also the source of our income. What are the environmental, health and business implications of the flight paths with no curfew? How will the flight paths interact with the ability of our fire fighters to conduct aerial hazard reduction and firefighting?
Mr Cooke concluded by urging voters to ask their local candidates these questions and more about Badgerys Creek Airport and to consider their answers carefully when casting their vote in the upcoming Federal Election.
From Debra Smith
Secretary
Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc
"As Unionists we welcome the opportunity presented for new jobs in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains but not at any cost. The EIS has raised more questions than it has answered." he said.
Mr Cooke encouraged Blue Mountains and Western Sydney residents to take every opportunity to inform themselves of all the possible effects of Badgerys Creek airport and to question local candidates about their positions.
"We've recently seen the shocking exploitation of foreign workers in several industries.
- How many local workers will be employed?
- Will foreign workers have the rights to fair pay and conditions which they deserve for a fair day's work and which will not undermine those of local workers?
- Will foreign workers be employed under the controversial China Free Trade Agreement or Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement?
- And how many secure ongoing jobs will be created?
Workers and the local economy need reliable incomes to prosper, not more underemployment."
"No doubt many locals are looking forward to improved infrastructure that should come with the airport. The Federal Government has only recently committed to high speed rail connecting Badgerys Creek, Parramatta and the Sydney CBD being built in time for a 2026 opening of the airport instead of 2040.
Will the high speed rail be owned and operated by the public sector or will it be a copy of the expensive and privately owned Sydney Airport link? We'll be sharing the existing roads and rail with the people and freight the airport will bring into Western Sydney.
Will the needs of residents as well as those of airport passengers and workers be served? What other infrastructure is planned? We've seen many infrastructure plans promised then shelved over the years. Will the infrastructure promised ever progress beyond the planning stage?
"It's also been reported that the planes will mostly carry domestic passengers and freight. Has high speed rail as an alternative been properly considered?"
"Local workers and business people treasure our Mountains' communities and World Heritage Area. It's our home and for many of us it's also the source of our income. What are the environmental, health and business implications of the flight paths with no curfew? How will the flight paths interact with the ability of our fire fighters to conduct aerial hazard reduction and firefighting?
Mr Cooke concluded by urging voters to ask their local candidates these questions and more about Badgerys Creek Airport and to consider their answers carefully when casting their vote in the upcoming Federal Election.
From Debra Smith
Secretary
Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc
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