Wagner Corporation lodge DA for Wellcamp Airport Aerospace and Defence Precinct

The Wellcamp Airport Aerospace and Defence Precinct has moved closer to becoming a reality with Wagner Corporation lodging plans with Toowoomba Regional Council.

Plans to create a massive new aerospace precinct outside of Toowoomba have taken a step closer to fruition.

Wagner Corporation this week lodged a development application with the Toowoomba Regional Council to build its Wellcamp Airport Aerospace and Defence Precinct.

The centrepiece of the project, sitting on land right next to the airport, will be the Boeing Loyal Wingman facility, which will assemble and test unmanned defence aircraft.

Wellcamp Airport Aerospace Precinct Map

The factory, which is the first of its kind built outside of the United States, will create work for 300 people and help grow the defence industry in the Toowoomba region.

The Loyal Wingman drone will have a range of more than 3700km and is designed to support crewed aircraft.

It comes five months after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed the Toowoomba region would host the project.

According to the planning report submitted by Precinct Urban Planning, the precinct will feature three buildings, including the factory, warehousing and a painting and refuelling area.

“The primary use of the (first) building will be for the assembly and testing of Boeing Aircraft Teaming Systems associated with the Boeing Loyal Wingman Facility,” the report said.

“That part of the building to be used for assembly purposes comprises 11,830 sqm with a mezzanine plant room of 562 sqm.

“(The warehouse) building will be located to the west of the Boeing assembly building and will be primarily used for storage purposes.

“The (painting) building comprises three sections including a hangar (1267 sqm) adjacent the taxiway, paint area (1673 sqm) central to the building and a storage area (1135 sqm) on the western side of the building.”

John Wagner from Wellcamp Airport. Boeing to produce Loyal Wingman at Wellcamp Aerospace Precinct. Boeing to produce Loyal Wingman at Wellcamp Aerospace Precinct. Wednesday, September 22, 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The facility will also feature 250 car parks, with operations expected to run 24 hours a day.

“Staff will attend the site over three eight-hour shifts (8am-4pm, 4pm-12am and 12am-8am) with the first shift comprising 150 staff, the second shift 100 staff and the third shift 50 staff,” the planning report said.

Multiple reports into stormwater, noise and traffic impacts were also submitted with the application.

Boeing is still waiting for the Federal Government to place its first order, with the matter reportedly a formality.

Speaking in September, Boeing Defence Australia managing director Scott Carpendale said he was confident in an order soon.