Wellcamp Airport takes another step ahead

JOHN Wagner is confident his airport’s negotiation deadlock with the Department of Defence is almost at an end.

The runway at Wagners Wellcamp Airport takes shape as Defence negotiations over shared air space near a conclusion. Picture: Contributed

JOHN Wagner is confident his airport's negotiation deadlock with the Department of Defence is almost at an end.

Wagners' plan to build a jet-capable airport at Wellcamp Downs has already reached its second stage of construction.

Mr Wagner always maintained a dispute over airspace shared with Defence would be settled.

Soon, he said, that resolution would be announced.

"The airport is going full-steam ahead," the Wagners' managing director said.

"The airspace issue is well and truly on the road to being sorted with Defence.

"We've appointed our architects for the terminal and its first draft is already out and under consideration.

"We have all the approvals to start the bulk of the earthworks, and the early works are already finished."

Mr Wagner said the revised terminal plans would be shown to the public within the next two months.

"We're just finalising things like the car parking, how the traffic works and where the buses and taxis will be," he said.

"It is a very big job and we are working feverishly on it."

The airport remains on track to accepting its first flights in the second half of next year.

That is by no means the end of the story.

"This will be an ongoing development for the next 20 to 30 years," Mr Wagner said.

Mr Wagner said the fact he was willing to invest so many millions into the project was testament to his assurance that Toowoomba on the way up.

On another note, the company has signed on for a two-year deal to bring Queensland Ballet to regional Queensland - something Mr Wagner said tied in with his plan for Toowoomba.

He described last week's performance of Giselle at the Empire Theatre as "an absolute sell-out".

"All of this is about making Toowoomba a destination," Mr Wagner said.

"It's a very exciting time for the city, and the more we promote it and attract people, the better off we will be."

Originally published as Wellcamp Airport takes another step ahead