Raine & Horne Commercial moves into Badgerys Creek as Western Sydney airport opens

Raine & Horne Commercial Liverpool has expanded into Badgerys Creek and appointed land specialist Joe Musico to work the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, as the opening of Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport on 26 October draws multinational investors and developers to the area.

The office, which has operated in Liverpool for more than 40 years and is led by Vincent Stevens, Stefan Baudana and Klaude Ruhs, now trades as Raine & Horne Commercial Liverpool | Badgerys Creek. It plans to open a permanent office in Badgerys Creek.

Mr Ruhs said the move had been about two years in planning.

"It's always been on the cards. It's probably been something in the making for the last two years," Mr Ruhs said. "Now we've got the right people, and we believe the timing's right."

International buyers

Mr Ruhs said the office was already dealing with large international investors looking for sites near the airport.

"We're dealing with multi-billion-dollar companies, Asian companies," he said. "We're not just dealing with local investors anymore or local developers. We're dealing with multinational organisations that want to be in Western Sydney and near the new airport."

He said industrial demand would come first, from businesses supporting the airport.

"Initially, demand for industrial space will come from industries supporting the airport, including imports, exports, freight and logistics firms," Mr Ruhs said.

"Over time, we'll start to see demand for office and retail space as more housing is developed around the airport, particularly in Bradfield. But at the moment, high-density residential development hasn't started."

The Aerotropolis precinct covers 11,200 hectares, and the NSW Government says Bradfield City will deliver 10,000 homes and 20,000 jobs.

A local land specialist

Mr Musico joins as associate director, strategic land and development sites. He has around 30 years in real estate, including 15 years owning an agency in Liverpool, and has worked on industrial land transactions around Badgerys Creek for the past four to five years with private and institutional buyers.

"My family's been in the area since the 1960s, giving me a strong understanding and connection to the Badgerys Creek region," Mr Musico said.

"For landowners, I understand that their property often represents a lifetime of hard work, family history and future financial security. My focus is on helping them understand what's driving demand for their land, finding the right buyers and negotiating the best possible price and terms for their circumstances."

Mr Ruhs said the first focus would be connecting landowners with buyers.

"We are initially focusing on connecting local landowners with developers and investors seeking strategic land and development sites, with our longer-term plans including establishing a permanent office in Badgerys Creek," he said.