Toowoomba aerodrome: Businessmen Gary Gardner, John Wagner exchange words over council’s financial forecasts for airport

A war of words has erupted between two of Toowoomba’s most powerful businessmen over the aerodrome and its supposed cost to ratepayers. Read the comments here:

Toowoomba Airport, officially called Toowoomba City Aerodrome. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Two of Toowoomba’s most powerful and influential businessmen have locked horns over “bulls--t” claims about the community value of the city’s aerodrome.

FKG Group executive chairman and Toowoomba councillor Gary Gardner on Wednesday returned fire at Wagner Corporation chair John Wagner over his criticisms of the aerodrome, which has become the subject of political debate in 2024.

John Wagner. (AAP Image/Darren England)

The war of words comes after the Toowoomba Regional Council voted in May to continue operating the airport long-term, ordering a review of both its leases, landing fees and internal operations budgets to make it more commercially competitive.

Mr Wagner, the owner of Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, alleged the dozens of operators at the aerodrome were getting a “free ride” from ratepayers, based on the council’s financial review that suggested it was running at a $1.5m loss.

“The Toowoomba Airport, why are they allowing it to run at a loss, why don’t they get that $1m and put it into the council budget?” he told News Corp.

“It’s actually not fair to the other ratepayers to subsidise a few people so they’ve got to start being a bit more strategic there.

“In my view, it’s a bit different to the not-for-profits (like LifeFlight), they provide a community service, (but) the commercial tenants are getting a free ride, while their counterparts get charged commercial rent.”

Mr Gardner, whose massive construction and development company owns a hangar at the airport, said he took offence at Mr Wagner’s comments.

Speaking in his capacity as the head of FKG and not a councillor, Mr Gardner even disputed the council’s own assessment the site was running at a loss.

Councillor Gary Gardner during an ordinary meeting of council. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“I take offence at this idea it’s running at a loss all the time — it’s bulls--t,” he said.

“The way they come up with the supposed loss is (by applying) the land tax, which they don’t pay (for the aerodrome).

“The operating revenue from the aerodrome is about $1m, and there’s about $1.2m that council has listed for wages and overheads, which is way too much, more than any private enterprise.

“You shouldn’t be tossing $1.2m in labour and staffing, it’s ridiculous.

“It’s a fictitious sum of money — (operators) have not been subsidised by any dollars from ratepayers.”

Mr Gardner was not present for the vote on May 28 due to his conflict, nor was he privy to the confidential financial review that was completed.

It marks the latest controversy around the aerodrome in 2024, which started after users expressed fears the council was looking to sell off the site.

The anxieties were brought about due to the TRC placing many of the users on month-to-month leases.

Operators recently said discussions had not progressed on longer-term leases.

‘Lack of clarity’: Calls to expand airport ahead of bushfire season

Aircraft owned by Aerial Precision, which wants to set up at Toowoomba Aerodrome. Dave Soda Photography.

A leading aerial firefighting company has urged the council to allow it to build new hangars at the Toowoomba Aerodrome ahead of bushfire season in the coming months.

Leading fixed-wing aerial fire suppression provider Precision Aerial has again indicated its plans to spend millions on new facilities at the airport to house is $20m in aircraft fleet.

The company, which is currently based in Meandarra, has a five-year partnership with the Queensland Fire Department and wants to protect its fleet from adverse weather events.

Co-owner Fiona Hill said she was no closer to securing a lease with the council despite alleging it had spent nearly a year of negotiations.

“We are disappointed at the lack of clarity on this matter and the time spent to get to a point where we are no better informed,” she said.

“There has been a lack of transparency around this client engagement process.

“We feel we were put into a holding pattern with the promise of a tender/EOI process that now looks like was never a consideration.”

In response, property services portfolio spokesman councillor Trevor Manteufel said no negotiations could begin before a tender was released.

“Before issuing new leases, the Local Government Regulation 2012 require council to first advertise tenders,” he said in a statement.

“Council is currently reviewing the relevant lease documents, including terms and conditions.

“When the new lease documents are finalised, they will accompany the tender package and form part of tender responses from interested parties.

“Aerial Precision is encouraged to submit a Tender response at the appropriate time.”