The federal government in Australia says planes could be taking off from a second Sydney airport within 15 years.
In an exclusive interview with an ABC programme, deputy prime minister Warren Truss gave his strongest indication yet that the airport will be built at Badgerys Creek in west Sydney.
"A number of people have suggested alternatives but all of them seem to have problems," Mr Truss said on Monday night.
"It was the site that was chosen a long time ago and it is still obviously the frontrunner. There's no perfect site for a second airport."
The ABC reports the Hawke government bought the land to build an airport in the 1980s.
The site has been earmarked virtually since the debate over a second Sydney airport began more than three decades ago.
However, western Sydney is home to a swag of marginal federal seats. Widespread community opposition led to a series of back flips from the major parties in Canberra.