December 15, 2014
The full economic potential of the new Wellcamp Airport won’t be unlocked across the local region unless “people get off their backsides”, Wagners’ chairman John Wagner warned a group of South Burnett businesspeople on Monday.
However, the airport offered a range of real opportunities for the South Burnett, including agricultural exports and tourism.
But Mr Wagner said it wasn’t up to his company to create these opportunities; it would require effort from local businesses.
The South Burnett Regional Council organised for a busload of business representatives to visit the new private airport, which has been built by Wagners near Toowoomba.
They were met on site by Mr Wagner and airport general manager Phil Gregory.
Mr Gregory said the project had been planned originally to be just a small runway, but as preliminary investigations began it became apparent there was a real opportunity for something much larger.
Mr Wagner said the Toowoomba local government area had the largest agricultural production in Queensland, and the second biggest in Australia. Adding in the surrounding shires, it had the biggest agricultural production in Australia.
Studies revealed the potential of the Wellcamp development: “$358 million extra output for the Toowoomba LGA over five years and 3200 jobs”.
He said China, in particular, wanted “safe, secure protein” and they wanted to get it from Australia.
“We reckon we could fill a jumbo every day,” he said.
However, the difficulty at the moment was organising freight in return.
“It won’t be easy but I think it will be a very real possibility that next year we will be seeing some agricultural product going out of here,” he said.
Mr Wagner said the airport was a long-term investment for his family – a “40 to 50-year play”.
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The process of developing Australia’s first private airport in 50 years hasn’t always been a smooth one.
The airport’s loudest critic has been Sydney radio announcer, and former Acland resident, Alan Jones.
Mr Wagner is definitely not a fan.
“He has called me a murderer, a criminal and a crook on national radio, but if you peel back the crap he has actually given us a lot of publicity in Sydney,” he said.
“The reality is we have 99.99 per cent community support for this project. I don’t lose too much sleep over him any more. I get on with positive things.”
Council red tape had also caused headaches, including a condition from Toowoomba Regional Council that a $14.5 million road be built before permission would be granted for two cafes in the terminal building.
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The Wellcamp Airport covers a 350ha site with an an adjacent 500ha business park under construction.
Proposals for the business park include a pork abattoir and a milk processing facility.
There is also an aviation school and accommodation camp planned.
The airport is connected to town water and will have its own sewage plant which will provide recycled water for irrigation on site.
Technically, the airport is rated as a Category 3 security-controlled airport which means it is in the same league as Brisbane Airport.
It is capable of operating 24 hours, with no curfew restrictions.
Mr Gregory said Wagners had tried to “future-proof” the project, with room for growth, especially in the terminal.
And it has been located near the second Toowomba Range crossing, which Wagners is also bidding on to construct.
“We are negotiating with the State Government to build an overpass off the bypass into the back of the airport,” Mr Wagner said.
The actual tarmac area can handle a Boeing 747 or even larger.
Qantaslink has already begun regular services to Sydney and Rex Airlines will start flights on January 1.
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- Qantas Signs Wellcamp Deal
