Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald, businessman John Wagner excited by potential of Gondwana Australia vehicle testing facility

A concept for a $650m vehicle testing facility near Wellcamp, which reportedly has the backing of global partners, has excited two of Toowoomba’s most influential leaders.

Two of Toowoomba’s most powerful leaders say they are excited by the opportunities presented by a “world-leading” $650m automotive testing and research facility, but want to see investor appetite first.

Leading businessman John Wagner and Toowoomba Geoff McDonald have welcomed the public launch of Gondwana Australia, a concept for a two-site “research and development sandpit” just metres from Wellcamp Airport.

The project, which still needs $2m before it can move ahead to the development application stage, has been spearheaded by businessmen Curly Frater and Robert Geddes over the past seven years.

3D renders from 2021 and 2022 of Gondwana Australia, a concept for a massive $650m testing facility and proving grounds for the global automotive industry near Toowoomba.

It could see car manufacturers shipping in prototypes and concept vehicles via the airport, testing them against international standards and regulations on a variety of tracks, simulators and other infrastructure.

The project is ostensibly supported by global partners like Applus IDIADA, SAE International and the IEEE, which specialise in designing vehicle testing facilities.

The pair argue Gondwana could create thousands of local jobs and inject $30m annually into the Toowoomba economy.

John Wagner. Lyndon Mechielsen/ The Australian

Mr Wagner, whose company Wagner Corporation owns Wellcamp Airport, said he was encouraged by the start-up’s ability to bring global manufacturers, regulators and engineering bodies on board.

“It’s a fantastic project, if they can get it up and running,” he said.

“Curly’s been working on it for a long time — I’ve met the people from IDIADA and they seem keen to progress, so it would be a very big win for our region.

“He’s a very tenacious character, he’s got the right people in the tent and hopefully he can pull it together.”

TRC Mayor Geoff McDonald. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Mr McDonald said he was keen to see the appetite from investors following the crowd-funding launch on Friday.

“The fact that it’s got formidable backing from major international organisations like IDIADA (is great) — it’s got some significant people behind it,” he said.

“It’s delivering on an international scale for the Asian market for vehicle testing, so the concept is pretty sound, but it’s (another) thing to materialise it.

“It’s a massive project, but from a council perspective it shows we’re a region that people want to invest in.”