VIDEO, GALLERY: The future of air travel in Toowoomba

MORE than 10,000 visitors are expected to get their first glimpse of Wellcamp Airport when its gates are opened to the public next month.

An artist's impression of the Wellcamp Airport. Picture: Contributed

MORE than 10,000 visitors are expected to get their first glimpse of Wellcamp Airport when its gates are opened to the public next month.

The red-dirt construction site will display the bare bones of an airport-in-the-making - a vast project laying the building blocks for the region's airborne future.

A 3D fly-over video released by Wagners has demonstrated the ultimate vision for the site in more clarity.

It depicts an integrated business and industrial precinct complete with palm-lined avenues, fountains, and a wetlands boardwalk.

The 2.87km runway - only 300m shorter than Brisbane Airport's - is due for completion by April 2014.

An artist's impression of the Wellcamp Airport. Picture: Contributed

Construction of the terminal will follow, with FK Gardner and Sons engaged to finish the project by August.

Wagners chairman John Wagner said the first commercial flights should be well-and-truly running by this time next year.

He said Wellcamp would be cheaper to run than Brisbane Airport.

"It will be a low-cost airport and, as such, we'd like to have those lower costs passed on to the travelling public," he said.

"All the major airlines have expressed serious interest in operating from Wellcamp."

Direct runs to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and regional centres including Roma will begin straight away, with further flight paths to follow.

The runway will be capable of accommodating 747 jets, though Wagners has stated it "would only be for intermittent charter cargo flights" - most likely exporting goods to Asia.

"The long-term vision - and it is a long-term vision - is for a state-of-the-art business precinct," Mr Wagner said.

3D Flyover of Wellcamp Airport

VIEW GALLERY

Mr Wagner said rail consortiums were beginning to seriously look at building a railway line from Melbourne to the Port of Brisbane, connecting with the Charlton Wellcamp industrial estate.

Work on the rail line could potentially begin next year.

"That project is starting to get a lot of legs," he said.

Wellcamp Airport will host a community open day on Sunday, November 24.

Building an airport

• 2.87km runway to be completed by April 2014
• FK Gardner and Sons contracted to finish terminal construction by August 2014
• First flights to begin by October 2014
• About 85 per cent of planes will depart on flight paths running between Westbrook and Wyreema.
• About 15% will arrive along the same flight path
• In that scenario, planes would pass roughly 2km from Westbrook and Wyreema, missing Cambooya by 5km.
• Initial noise level projections carried out by Wagners showed residents in Westbrook would typically experience readings of less than 55 decibels as 717 jets took off from the airport - "less than a dishwasher"
• Flights will begin with Dash 8 Q400-style propeller aircraft
• Wagners will add 717s and 737s over time
• Occasional 747 charter cargo freights also expected
• Company expects up to 70,000 passengers within the first six months of operation
• Independent report by Lawrence Accounting estimated Wellcamp Airport would add $135.6 million into the Toowoomba economy in its first year of operation

Originally published as VIDEO, GALLERY: The future of air travel in Toowoomba