Gateway WSA site hits the market
An enormous commercial development site opposite the south west boundary of the Western Sydney Airport, at Luddenham, has hit the market with c$70 million price expectations.
Incorporating two The Northern Road blocks including #2215, on the south west corner of Willmington and a thin parcel across the street – all up, 1.4 kilometres of frontage – it spreads 80.1 hectares.
With its location close to the Cargo terminal, its new zoning, Agribusiness, allows for, amongst other things, pharmaceutical manufacturing, freight and logistics, commercial and business and agriculture.
It also permits retail.
Colliers’ Thomas Mosca and Nick Estephen are the agents; it is the largest property yet to hit the market in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis region, they said.
Formerly a dairy, Blue Hills, it spread twice the size before the commonwealth government acquired c44.5ha for the airport in 1989, then the state road department picked off more in 1991 and 2016 for associated infrastructure.
The vendor, a private family, has held since 1980 – initially using the site for cattle grazing then an uber-successful Christmas tree business which ceased when the airport was confirmed six years ago.
Luddenham Agribusiness Hub
Colliers is marketing the property as the Luddenham Agribusiness Hub and a trophy gateway site.
“This property presents as one of the area’s most strategic land holdings, acting as a core development opportunity to activate the Luddenham Village and western pocket of the airport,” Mr Mosca said.
Two key signalised intersections are designed for the site – which will provide a capital injection for the incoming owner, be it as cash or council contribution offset, he added.
“I don’t think a property with as much potential has ever been offered to the market,” according to the executive.
“This is 200 acres of land adjoining Sydney’s only 24-hour international airport, it’s a blank canvas.
“People are starting to see the potential of Western Sydney and I think by the time most people realise what’s out here it will be a very different area.
“Opportunities like this are seldom seen and with the region’s growth already evident, there’s no better time to invest into Western Sydney” (story continues below).
24 hour airport at the doorstep
The Western Sydney Airport is due for completion in 2026 with the first runway and terminal almost finished.
“With one existing and one planned key signalised intersection located on the [Luddenham] site and with exposure of The Northern Rd and Willmington Rd, there is set to be excellent future development accessibility,” Mr Estephan said.
“On top of this, the site offers fantastic access to the dedicated cargo area at the new airport,” he added.
The listing comes 13 months since the Society of Model Engineers sold a 10.12ha industrial development site at 869-885 Luddenham Rd, Luddenham, for over $30m.
A couple of months earlier, a 6.1ha Bringelly parcel, 180 and 190 Badgerys Creek Rd, traded for $15.25m to a local business for future development.
DHL also purchased a Bringelly block, earlier this year; earmarked for four distribution centres the group will occupy, the 24ha parcel cost $140m from fund manager Robert Jones.
Precincts filling up
Several commercial areas are master-planned around Western Sydney Airport, c40 kilometres west of Sydney.
Altis, Dexus, Frasers Property Industrial, Fife Capital, Frasers Property Industrial, GPT and Stockland have bought into the Mamre Road Precinct, near the airport’s northern boundary.
Adelaide and Brighton Bank, also known as ADBRI, Hanson, Gibb Group and Mirvac, meanwhile, have a presence at Badgerys Creek – near there.
The CSIRO, Federal Express/Fedex, Hitachi and state government have also invested in the precinct’s Bradfield, set to be Sydney’s third CBD, with construction of the first building underway.
Some amenity has also been completed – including the Luddenham Village shopping centre, with an IGA, and a major Shell service station.
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