Western Sydney Airport (WSI) Discussion

[markis10]

Storms cells are fairly localised and weather is often completely different 30 miles away.

Indeed winds can be radically different at both, with katabatic winds in effect at WSI overnight while Sydney has anabatic winds.

 

[AuSammy]

How can you divert to WSI when it's also storming there?

Because it may not have been effecting WSI in the same/any way.

Yesterday in our suburb about 10 mins from BNE by road we had no heavy rain wind thunder or lightning just a light drizzle. However BNE was in the thick of big storms and had to close.

 

[Melburnian1]

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Approach was directly over the Blue Mountains. Stunning views actually but photography ruined with sun glare and a dirty window making focus a problem.

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Barely saw a house we flew over other than those ones.
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Airport looks great. I like the design and colours. It feels right for the destination. Looking forward to watching the place evolve over the years. Everything ran really smoothly. I've wandered out the front and now on the public bus towards Liverpool. Beautiful sunny warm day.

Those trees look like exotics.

Given the lesser rainfall in much of western Sydney, why didn't the airport plant natives? Hardier, typically needing less watering and sympathetic to the environment and ecology.

 

[offshore171]

why didn't the airport plant natives?

Native trees attract native birds.

Airports go to great lengths not to attract birds, for obvious reasons.

 

[Melburnian1]

Native trees attract native birds.

Airports go to great lengths not to attract birds, for obvious reasons.

But people with untidy habits, such as dropping crumbs or parts of sandwiches, attract numerous pest birds such as Rock/Spotted Doves (feral pigeons) and Common ('Indian') Mynas (the latter not to be confused with the native Noisy Miner). Even Silver Gulls will migrate inland if there's enough of an attraction to lure them (think rubbish tips).

People also attract other imported pest birds such as blackbirds, starlings and house sparrows.

Planting natives can attract butterflies, native (and European) bees and other insects. These are all healthy for the environment, and if native trees and
shrubs are planted in forecourts a long way from runways, there's less chance of bird strikes.

 

[SYD]

Those trees look like exotics.

Given the lesser rainfall in much of western Sydney, why didn't the airport plant natives? Hardier, typically needing less watering and sympathetic to the environment and ecology.

All natives AFAIK. They’ve gone out of their way to plant natives - presumably as an offset for bulldozing acres of coughberland forest to build WSI

Airport is top of the tree after planting efforts • The Western Weekender

A team of 60 volunteers led by Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport have rolled up their sleeves to plant more than 750 trees as part of the airport’s ongoing conservation efforts.

www.westernweekender.com.au

 

[Melburnian1]

Good. I just couldn't make out what the trees were in the photo. Thanks.