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6 August, 2024

Western Sydney locals on the job as new international airport passes 80 per cent completion mark

Edited by Travel Weekly

Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) continues to offer thousands of job opportunities as the project surpasses 80 per cent completion and opening day edges closer.

WSI recently marked a major milestone with the completion of the terminal roof, which represented an important step-change for the ongoing terminal fit-out as it weatherproofs the building to help support internal works like the feature ceiling, departure areas, lounges and retail and hospitality spaces.

WSI CEO Simon Hickey said more than 100 workers, many of whom are Western Sydney locals, have helped build the terminal roof over the last 18 months, while about 3,500 people across the broader workforce are bringing WSI to life each day.

“Western Sydney International Airport has supercharged employment opportunities in the region as construction has progressed and that prosperity is set to accelerate when airport operations commence in just over two years’ time,” Hickey said.

“Around half of the workforce are Western Sydney locals, while about a third are learning on the job – through traineeships, apprenticeships, internship or graduate programs.

“It’s the tip of the iceberg for what this airport will mean for young people across Western Sydney who will no longer need to commute into the Sydney CBD to access quality, high-paying jobs that provide a fulfilling career and more time at home with family and friends.

“We are building more than just an airport – we are building a skills legacy for the vibrant cultural heartland of Western Sydney that will benefit young people today and many future generations for decades to come.”

Liverpool local Tayla Chalfa is one year through the graduate program with Multiplex.

Liverpool local Tayla Chalfa, 22, is one year through the graduate program with Multiplex after topping her cohort with an Honours in Construction Management at Western Sydney University.

“Working on Western Sydney International has been a real pinch me moment. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I doubt I’ll ever work on another airport in my career again,” Chalfa said.

Chalfa said the skills and experience gained on the project will be a career springboard.

“It’s a very unique working environment because of its sheer scale and the different interfaces the airport connects into like the Sydney Metro and other contractors, so I’ve definitely gained skills I’ll use with me throughout the rest of my career,” she said.

Because of the burgeoning infrastructure investment in Western Sydney, Chalfa will move onto another project in Western Sydney with Multiplex after the project.

“As a Liverpool local, it’s so great to know that within half an hour of where I live, I will be working on some of the city’s biggest infrastructure projects,” Chalfa said.

Leonay resident Nelson Mayan, originally from South Sudan, is now a site supervisor at the WSI terminal.

Nelson Mayan, 28, came to Australia from South Sudan when he was eight and now lives in Leonay, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. He’s a site supervisor at WSI’s terminal where he manages the day-to-day operations and on-site safety of workers as well as making sure the project is running on time.

“My favourite thing about working on this project is giving back to the local community and seeing how their local area will be transformed because of the airport. Western Sydney is so rich in culture, and it will be fantastic to showcase that as the airport becomes a gateway from Western Sydney to the world,” Mayan said.

Mayan has worked on many civil and infrastructure sites but none of this size and scale.

“You go from pouring 10,000 square metres of concrete on a site to pouring 100,000 square metres of concrete on the airport project. That’s a big difference in size. You can’t comprehend it until you see it,” Mayan said.

Jonathan Dunstan, 34, is a life-long Camden resident and began at Multiplex as a 16-year-old work experience kid and at the age of 22 entered the graduate program. Dunstan has risen through the ranks to become an engineering manager working on Western Sydney International Airport.

“This has completely changed my lifestyle and the way I live my life. I no longer have to commute into the city for work,” he said. “I’ve been hearing about the airport since I was in year three at school so to be working on the project and play an integral part in shaping my local area is something I’m very proud of,” he said.

Working on the project has meant Dunstan and his wife were able to purchase their first property in the heart of Camden.

“It will be good to see my children one day take advantage of the opportunities this airport will create in the region. I’ve been able to further my career during its construction but imagine the jobs that will be available once the airport is operating,” Dunstan said.

Hi job involves coordinating the design, engineering and construction of the terminal with multiple teams including architects, engineers, services, and subcontractors.

Feature image: Western Sydney International Airport crew Tayla Chalfa and Nelson Mayan on site.

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Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport Western Sydney International Airport