Multiplex Completes Sydney’s First Major Airport Terminal Build In over 100 Years

Premier global contractor Multiplex has completed construction of the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) terminal in Badgerys Creek. It represents the first major airport to be built in Sydney in over 100 years, and will be the city’s only 24-hour airport.

Built on behalf of the Western Sydney Airport Corporation (WSA Co), WSI’s state-of-the-art terminal was designed by renowned architects Zaha Hadid and COX Architecture. Spanning four levels, it is designed to service 10 million annual passengers.

Multiplex developed an optimised design for WSI’s terminal and surrounding infrastructure, working in collaboration with leading consultants including Airbiz and Woods Bagot. This optimised blueprint enhanced the project’s performance within a refined, more efficient space – enhancing the passenger experience.

Multiplex initiated construction planning in tandem with site works, working to a strict program that ensured the new airport terminal was delivered on time and within budget.

“Western Sydney International Airport is a once-in-a-lifetime project. It has created a new world-class gateway to Sydney for domestic and international travellers. The completion of this highly technical build is also a significant milestone for Multiplex, as the largest project we have delivered in NSW in Multiplex’s 60-plus-year history,” said Multiplex’s NSW Regional Managing Director, David Ghannoum.

“The delivery of this complex airfield project is testament to our diverse capabilities and ability to collaborate, unlocking insights from other sectors to achieve outstanding outcomes. WSI is a highly impactful piece of infrastructure that will leave a legacy for years to come,” he added.

“We are on the precipice of launching a seamless and stress-free airport experience unlike any other in Australia,” said Western Sydney International Airport’s CEO Simon Hickey. “WSI will give our global city a 24-hour international gateway that will continue to create significant economic opportunities for all of Greater Sydney.”

WSI’s construction spanned almost four years and delivered a major employment boost to Western Sydney, generating thousands of construction jobs as well as permanent roles within the airport itself. Over 2,000 workers were on site at the terminal project’s peak, and importantly, over 50% of the WSI workforce were local Western Sydney residents.

According to Multiplex, the highly technical WSI build presented challenges that were overcome using innovative construction methodologies.

“Significant challenges were presented by the scale of the terminal building and the volume of conventional concrete and specialised labour required to build it,” said Mr. Ghannoum.

To maintain the project’s delivery schedule, Multiplex opted to construct Levels 2 and 3 of the terminal using a ‘Slimdek 210’ flooring solution – a locally-made composite steel frame developed by BlueScope Steel. This reduced the amount of labour and concrete required to build the terminal and enabled the fit-out of WSI’s baggage handling system to commence several months ahead of schedule.

Another innovation in Multiplex’s methodology was a prefabricated service riser system, used within the main terminal building and allowing each core to be installed in a single day.

Beyond completing the iconic new WSI terminal, Multiplex has delivered tangible social and economic impacts for the broader community. More than 60 local subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers from Western Sydney, whose combined contract value exceeded $400 million, worked on the project.

Multiplex also launched the Western Sydney Airport Connectivity Centre in partnership with Penrith TAFE, aimed at generating sustainable, long-term employment opportunities for local jobseekers. A variety of initiatives were rolled out, including Construction Pathways to Certificate II and vocational training for trade and flight-related careers, particularly for First Nations women. Since its inception, the Connectivity Centre has facilitated 381 work placements for First Nations people. The project also saw Multiplex roll out its Jump Start, Jump Start Trades and Jump Start Juniors programs, which promote construction careers amongst female high school students and primary school students, respectively. Over 550 students from 21 Western Sydney high schools and 11 primary schools participated in Jump Start programs over the course of the project.