'We don't need two airports': Aerodrome should be sold

THE Toowoomba Regional Council could make more than $100 million by selling the City Aerodrome to property developers, according to a property consultant

The Toowoomba Aerodrome. Picture: Bev Lacey

THE Toowoomba Regional Council could make more than $100 million by selling the City Aerodrome to property developers.

That's the opinion of Toowoomba property consultant Gordon Grover, who declared the long-time airstrip superfluous to the city's needs.

Mr Grover, the director of Specialised Property Consulting, said Wagners' Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport was already satisfying the region's commercial air needs, and the aerodrome's clients should be moved there.

Specialised Property Consulting director Gordon Grover. Picture: Contributed

"It makes no sense to have two airports competing for the same services," he said.

"It's such a massive underutilised space - it's prime land in one of the major growth corridors in Toowoomba.

"It's a 52-hectare site, which if you only got housing lots on 50% of that, there's $65 million in potential revenue for the council."

Mr Grover, who has acted as a consultant for the Queensland Government and companies like Aldi in the past, said Wagners would likely be happy to take on extra business.

Deputy Mayor Carol Taylor said there were no plans to sell off the aerodrome.

"With more than 25,000 aircraft movements per year, the Toowoomba City Aerodrome is vital to the general aviation sector of the Darling Downs region and further afield," she said.

"The Toowoomba City Aerodrome provides a number of aviation ancillary services and facilities, with around 30 businesses operating at the aerodrome.

"The aerodrome is an important site for the Royal Flying Doctor Service with 285 landings in the 2017/18 financial year.

"The aerodrome is a major public asset with the Toowoomba Aero Club serving as a valuable pilot training centre."

Originally published as 'We don't need two airports': Aerodrome should be sold