THE federal government plans to build a second Sydney airport at Wilton — but it still hasn't told the traditional owners of the site.
The chief executive of the Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land Council. Greg Bondar (far right) said the government had made no attempt to contact the land council.
"It's a total disregard for the community, both the traditional and the current," he said.
"I'm just hoping that before they go to any further stages in proposing Wilton they come back and talk to the stakeholders — and we're among the major stakeholders."
Mr Bondar said the proposed airport site could contain places of cultural significance to the Dharawal people.
"The area is well known for having unearthed in the past some significant cultural relics and what have you, so we're very cautious," Mr Bondar said.
"We have a rough idea of where it's going to be so we're trying to do a rough overview of our holdings in relation to the airport and see how it will have an impact.
"They should be consulting the traditional owners of the place."
A spokeswoman for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the government had not yet reached that phase of the airport investigations.
"The government announced the next step in dealing with Sydney's aviation capacity issues just last week," she said.
"That step involves further investigation into the suitability of Wilton — including conducting preliminary economic, social and environmental studies.
"Once that investigation gets under way, the Department of Infrastructure will, of course, seek a discussion with the Aboriginal Land Council.
"In the meantime, the department is also very happy to brief the Aboriginal Land Council and other stakeholders on the findings of the 3200-page independent joint study into Sydney's aviation capacity."