Wagners set to take on council over airport charges

Court date set for Wagners to appeal over council infrastructure charges at Wellcamp Airport.

Wagners are appealling Toowoomba Regional Council infrastructure charges relating to the Wellcamp Airport. Picture: Salt Studios

WAGNERS has convinced a court to push back an appeal hearing over a million dollars in infrastructure charges for Wellcamp Airport, despite Toowoomba Regional Council's protests.

Wagners lodged 10 appeals against stormwater infrastructure charges the council levied in relation to the Wellcamp Airport.

The Brisbane Planning and Environment Court heard a similar dispute regarding the airport's runway has recently been resolved - but the remaining 10 matters were "still contentious".

The council's lawyer Michael Williamson said the council wanted the matter dealt with quickly.

"My client is keen to get the matter on," Mr Williamson said.

He said evidence and reports for the hearing would be ready for a five-day hearing in July.

But lawyer for Wagners Andrew Davis said the senior lawyer who had been involved in the matter for years was out of the country until July 27.

Mr Davis said if the matter was heard in July the company would have to find new representation.

Judge Richard Jones reluctantly agreed to the proposed dates in order to keep the Wagners legal team together.

"Wagners, to put it bluntly, are a big operation in Queensland but particularly in the Toowoomba region. So they're not going to go anywhere," he said.

"Mr Davis, you can tell (the lawyer) he's staying in the Wagners matter by the skin of his teeth."

The matter is set to be heard over five days from August 21.

ARM NEWSDESK

Originally published as Wagners set to take on council over airport charges