Wellcamp raceway a victim of fight over quarantine centre

The stoush over the proposed quarantine facility near Toowoomba has contributed to Canberra’s refusal to provide $40m towards the Wagner family’s proposed raceway nearby.

John Wagner with motocross champion Kaleb Barham at the proposed raceway site. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

The stoush between the Morrison and Palaszczuk governments over the proposed dedicated quarantine centre near Toowoomba has contributed to Canberra’s refusal to provide $40m towards the Wagner family’s planned raceway nearby.

Deputy Prime Minister ­Michael McCormack has reportedly ruled out providing funding towards the $175m Wellcamp Entertainment Precinct in next month’s budget.

A spokesman for Mr McCormack denied the Deputy Prime Minister had personally endorsed a letter, reportedly written to Wagner Corporation chairman John Wagner, to inform him of the decision.

Mr McCormack had previously supported the raceway, which would include a 40,000-person amphitheatre, motocross track and driver training centre. But sources told The Australian that Canberra’s attitude towards the project had softened in recent months since the public fight over the Wellcamp quarantine centre.

The Palaszczuk government had pledged $40m towards the entertainment area in October, contingent on the federal government matching the funding. The remaining $95m was to come from Wagner Group.

While Ms Palaszczuk has ­repeatedly called for the federal government to give in-principle support to the quarantine centre — also to be built by the Wagners next to their Wellcamp airport — Mr Morrison has said the proposal lacked detail.

The Palaszczuk government has continued, as recently as this month, to attack the federal government over its refusal to provide in-principle support for the centre and give approval for international flights to land at Wellcamp.

Government sources said the fight had contributed to the federal government’s decision not to award the funding for the raceway, with one insider saying the Wagners had “picked the wrong horse” on the quarantine centre.

Several prominent figures within the Liberal National Party have privately called on Mr ­McCormack to rethink the decision and to show support for the renowned Toowoomba business family.

Groom MP Garth Hamilton said the decision not to fund the raceway was based on prioritising funding to essential infrastructure projects in the fast-growing Toowoomba suburb of Highfields.

“This is an exciting project for our region and while I do like the concept, my priorities are securing funding for roads and water infrastructure in our region,” Mr Hamilton said.

“A significant investment of state and federal funds could see council wishlist items like a second road to Highfields become ­reality, servicing a huge growth area for our community.’’

Future funding for the entertainment precinct has not been ruled out.

In November, Mr McCormack said the federal government wanted to “do things like this”, referring to the entertainment project.

The proposal has also attracted support from farmers who want the centre to be used to quarantine overseas workers coming to Australia to fill a severe shortfall in picking jobs in the agriculture ­sector.