An $8 billion mixed-use World Trade Centre (WTC) ‘city’ has been proposed for the area near the Western Sydney Airport.

The city includes four WTC towers, an international convention and exhibition centre, commercial space for multinational companies, an innovation and incubation centre for start-ups and retail and residential space.

The site of the proposed WTC Sydney was master planned by Woods Bagot and design director Neil Hill explains the task as one of considering the future and the next generation of development in a way that will help a sustainable growth pattern to develop.

Aerial view of the proposed World Trade Centre

“In combination, the new Western Sydney Airport and the realisation of the Greater Sydney Commission’s strategy for the Western Parklands City is an extraordinary opportunity to conceive urban development hosting high tech industries synthesised with the unique natural environment of the Nepean river system and Cumberland Parklands for sustainable living,” he says.

Energy production, use, storage, recycling and sharing between different types of development in the cluster of the towers and low rise mixed use – and the spaces between them – is a key part of the sustainability goal.

An alternative view of the WTC

An economic impact assessment by PwC indicates that by 2040 the mixed-use employment district at WTC Sydney would create 43,500 direct jobs and directly inject $13 billion into the economy.

Aerotropolis group managing director and CEO Jomon Varghese (who made the proposal) says that it presents a social and economic contribution not only to Western Sydney but across NSW.

The Arrival Plaza looking north

“WTC Sydney is a project that will resolve the structural problem faced by Sydney by bringing balance to our city which is historically tilted to the east. We are excited about this project, it will create an ecosystem to promote international trade, economic activity and employment generation by connecting Sydney to the 322 cities in 90 countries through the WTC network. WTC Sydney will ensure a seamless flow of demand from these 322 international cities to Sydney, causing export from NSW to increase significantly.”

Last year, the WA government put plans for a $1.8 billion Perth twin towers on hold indefinitely until the implications on the rail network and wider strategic planning could be further considered.