By STEVE GRAY
THE Darling Downs new airport at Wellcamp, near Toowoomba, took a major step forward yesterday with the start of construction on the airport’s passenger terminal.
The first concrete pour took place on stage one of the terminal which involves 8000m2 comprising of core infrastructure needed to accept the first flights planned for September.
The airport, being built by the Wagners Group, will be a game-changer for the region, offering passenger and freight services. It will be Australia’s first privately-funded Greenfield public airport since Tullamarine, Victoria, which was built in 1947.
Toowoomba’s current airport is land-locked and cannot take larger passenger or freight aircraft.
Initial flight connections utilising the 747-capable, 2.87km runway are expected to include Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Adelaide, Mackay, Roma and Emerald.
The Wagner Group used its own award-winning Earth Friendly Concrete when about 35 cubic metres of the low carbon, cement-free geopolymer concrete was poured on site.
The first stage of the terminal will involve car parking, bus, taxi and hire car areas, ticketing desks, baggage retrieval, departure lounges, cafes, bar and retail areas and planning spaces for office tenancies and airlines clubs.
Airport developer Denis Wagner said EFC was the lowest carbon concrete produced in the world and contained one of the highest levels of sulphate and chloride resistance.
“EFC will be used in the taxiways, apron and runaway,” he said.
Built on an 800 hectare site in Wellcamp, the airport precinct will also include a business park, which is expected to attract leading Australian and international companies in the areas of aviation, transport logistics, warehousing and logistics, manufacturing as well as factory outlets.
The airport has received widespread support from all levels of government, the local community and businesses and a wide range of industries and will be a vital asset in helping increase connectivity to and from the region.
Meanwhile Brisbane’s lord mayor has objected to the name for the new airport. It has been designated Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport.
Cr Graham Quirk said the name for an airport that will be 130kms west of the capital could mislead passengers into thinking they were travelling to Brisbane.
