Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun says Western Sydney International Airport is Liverpool's catalyst for global investment, local jobs and the creation of a truly global city.
Speaking shortly before boarding the first commercial passenger flight from WSIA today, Mayor Mannoun said: "Liverpool backed the airport vision from the outset.
"In April 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbott confirmed Badgerys Creek as the site for Western Sydney's new airport, followed the next day by announcing in Liverpool Council Chambers the major infrastructure package needed to support its development."
The airport and its surrounding precinct are already attracting unprecedented investment, with around $29 billion committed by government and a further $34 billion in private investment helping to transform Western Sydney into a major economic and employment hub.
"Western Sydney International Airport is now open, Liverpool is open for business, and we intend to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity," Mayor Mannoun said.
"The future is only limited by our imagination. We have spent years backing this vision, and now we need to turn global connectivity into investment, jobs and prosperity for our residents.
"Liverpool Council will continue to create a global city, championing the infrastructure, investment and economic opportunities that will help Liverpool take its place on the world stage."
Western Sydney International Airport is the centrepiece of a near $18 billion Australian Government investment in Western Sydney. Its 24-hour operations will support passenger travel and freight services, with the airport's cargo precinct designed to ultimately handle up to 1.8 million tonnes of air cargo annually.
The airport project has already generated more than 12,800 jobs, with around half going to local workers, while more than $500 million has flowed to more than 360 Western Sydney businesses during construction.
Mayor Mannoun said Liverpool was exceptionally well placed to build on this momentum, with major transport, logistics, health, education and commercial precincts creating a powerful platform for growth.
Moorebank Intermodal Terminal connects freight by rail to Sydney's container port, while the airport creates new opportunities for exporters, manufacturers, freight operators and businesses serving international markets.
"Businesses can look at Liverpool and see the ingredients for success: international connectivity, major freight infrastructure, a growing economy and a young, diverse workforce.
"We want businesses to establish here, expand here and employ local people. We want international investors to recognise that Liverpool is a place to build for the future."
Liverpool is already an economic powerhouse in its own right, with a population of around 226,000, more than 30,000 registered businesses and over 114,500 local jobs.
Its gross regional product is approaching $19 billion, and its population is projected to exceed 353,000 by 2046.
The city's international outlook is reflected in its people. Residents represent more than 150 nationalities, speak around 140 languages and bring valuable connections to markets and communities around the world. More than half of residents speak a language other than English at home.
With a median age of around 34, Liverpool also has a young population and a growing pool of future workers to support expanding industries.
Mayor Mannoun said the challenge was to ensure the region's infrastructure kept pace with its growth.
"An airport alone will not deliver everything our community deserves. We need the roads, rail connections, public transport, utilities and supporting infrastructure that allow businesses to invest with confidence and residents to access the jobs being created.
"Council will continue to advocate strongly for these connections, work with government and industry, and promote Liverpool to investors here and overseas.
"Two in three Liverpool residents travel outside the city for work. We have an opportunity to change that by attracting more employers and creating high-quality jobs closer to home.
"We have the people, the location and the ambition. The airport has opened a new gateway to the world, and Liverpool is ready to walk through it."
Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun about to board Jetstar flight JQ362 bound for the Gold Coast, - the first commercial passenger flight from Western Sydney International Airport.
