The construction of Sydney’s second airport has kicked off today and has been described as an “historic” moment for Western Sydney.

The Prime Minister has turned the first sod at the construction site at Badgery’s Creek.

The airport will take eight years to build, with initial earthworks not set to be completed for 18 months.

The build will cost just over $5 billion and has been decades in the making.

Western Sydney Airport’s Chief Executive Graham Millett says they’ve made an “incredible start”.

“It’s an historic moment for Western Sydney and, frankly, I couldn’t have been prouder,” he tells Chris Kenny.

1780 hectares of land, around twice the size of Sydney airport, will need to be flattened and it’ll be one of the largest earthmoving projects in Australia’s history.

The build will bring work, with Mr Millett telling Chris up to 200,000 jobs will be created when the airport is up and running.

Click PLAY below for the full interview