Wagners debates council fees

THE developer of the budding Wellcamp Downs jet airport has cried foul over a $654,330 council bill for stormwater works at the site.

A concept map of the developing Wagners Wellcamp Airport.

THE developer of the budding Wellcamp Downs jet airport has cried foul over a $654,330 council bill for stormwater works at the site.

Wagners Investments was hit with the staggering bill after Toowoomba Regional Council's approval of the project in December.

Work on the airport's 2.8km runway has already begun with further works to proceed after the auction of the former Wellcamp Downs horse stud and all its assets in just over a week.

But there are still few issues to iron out.

Concept plans for proposed Wagners Wellcamp Airport. Photo: Contributed

A letter from Precinct Urban Planning director Andrew Bullen to council's senior planner outlines Wagners' resistance to paying $654,330 for stormwater works.

"...Stormwater will be collected, retained and treated from a quality perspective on the site, before being discharged into Westbrook Creek," Mr Bullen wrote.

He further contended that neither Westbrook Creek nor its tributaries were identified as part of council's trunk stormwater infrastructure network.

"In this regard, the approved development is not discharging stormwater into council's trunk stormwater network."

As Westbrook Creek is a natural waterway, Wagners claims it "does not rely on stormwater being conveyed through land under alternative ownership".

"Where the nature or attributes of a use mean that there is no impact... infrastructure contributions are not reasonably payable."

Mayor Paul Antonio would not comment on particulars, but said the issue would come before council.

"There are always discussions of this nature for a project of this size," he said.

A Wagners spokesman said the company was negotiating with council and going through due process to come to an agreement.

Originally published as Wagners debates council fees