July 31, 2026
Attempts to turn consultations about the future of the Kingaroy Airport Precinct into a discussion about the proposed Tarong West Wind Farm work camp were firmly, but politely, waved away at an information session on Friday morning.
The South Burnett Regional Council organised the meeting at the Kingaroy Airport Terminal building so residents could respond to an initial masterplan (see map, below) suggesting future industrial, commercial and residential development in the airport precinct area.
Consultants PSA Infrastructure, who prepared the masterplan, have been engaged by the SBRC to collate residents’ ideas before preparing a formal Draft Plan which would be presented at a future SBRC Council meeting.
If adopted by Council, this would then go out to the community for further discussions.
Consultant Terry Rossitto explained to the small crowd that the final Planning Document would guide perhaps 20 years of development around the airport.
The initial masterplan suggests possible industrial and commercial development on the southern edge of the precinct as well as a small airpark.
Local resident Debbie Jackson expressed concerns about the possible development of another retail area, further fragmenting the Kingaroy CBD.
Mr Rossitto said this need not be shops; it could be solicitors’ rooms etc.
He also said the historic nature of the airport precinct, which was an important training area during World War II, would be recognised in the Draft Plan.
Property developer Allen Buckley, from the Room Motel Group, asked why the masterplan was not considering a “real” airpark with large blocks.
He said the tiny blocks on the proposal would not be a magnet to the type of people who wanted to park their aircraft nearby.
Mr Buckley, whose website explains his passion for aviation, claimed Council had shown no interest in his multi-million dollar plans to develop the airport precinct.
He then publicly offered to buy the area from Council for a future sub-division.
Speaking afterwards to southburnett.com.au, Mr Buckley clarified he would only buy the land if it was zoned correctly for a freehold sub-division. He would then offer the blocks to other buyers to develop.
Anti-wind farm campaigner Fiona Duff, who lives near the Wambo Wind Farm near Jandowae, tried to turn the discussion back to the proposed RES work camp which, if approved, would be a temporary facility on land opposite the airport to house workers involved in the construction of the Tarong West Wind Farm at Ironpot.
The proposed work camp area is marked on the Airport Masterplan as a future “Disaster Management Centre” and “Agricultural & Community Facilities Area”.
A resident expressed concerns the work camp, if approved, would not be temporary and that the infrastructure involved in its development would not be removed.
Council CEO Mark Pitt said that was wrong, however if underground water and sewerage were put in, it would not be dug up.
It would be considered a “contributed asset” like any other development.
There were also questions about access to the “airside” and “landside” areas of the airport precinct.
Taabinga resident Steve Jarron – who said his son would like to develop a flying school at the airport – queried why an access gate had been removed from near Gary Chadwick’s aircraft maintenance business at the airport.
A Council staff member said access to the airside of the precinct was available, as required, by filling in a form on Council’s website. This was to comply with legislation. An extract of the Kingaroy Airport Aerodrome Manual was also available to download (120kb PDF) to explain this, although the full manual was an internal Council document.
Feedback on the Airport masterplan is also being collected by an online survey which will be open until August 7.
This is at least the fourth time that an attempt has been made to develop a planning document for the Kingaroy Airport.
- Kingaroy Holiday Park owner Scott Grummitt invited residents who felt they would be affected by the proposed work camp – but could not ask questions at Friday’s airport masterplan meeting – to attend a get-together at his park from 7:00pm next Tuesday (August 4) to find out more about the RES proposal and how they could make a submission ahead of the August 7 deadline.
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Masterplan For Discussion
