Airport takes off!

Huge crowds watch as Wagners detonate a huge exposion at the airport open day. 111093_01

By STEVE GRAY

WELLCAMP airport’s backers know how to get a bang for their buck.
As part of their hugely successful public open day on Sunday the Wagner family detonated the largest non-mining explosion ever to occur in Australia.
Henry Wagner pushed the button on the blast as onlookers watched from one kilometre away as 500,000 tonnes of rock was blown sky high.
It wasn’t all show, with the rock to go into the massive construction project that is Wellcamp Airport.
Rock wasn’t the only thing to go up, with the 18,000 visitors to the open day exceeding all expectations.
Initially about 10,000 people were expected to attend, but more than 18,000 turned up.
Wellcamp Airport general manager Phil Gregory said yesterday’s event was a huge success.
“It was fantastic so many people came to see the airport first hand, tour the site and get a feel for the development,” Mr Gregory said.
Some took joy flights over the 800-hectare site while others listened to country singers Tania Kernaghan and Amber Lawrence woo the crowds.
Airport ambassador Laura Geitz, a former Allora girl now captain of the Australian Diamonds netball team, signed autographs for fans.
“We are incredibly humbled by the overwhelming support for what will be an
important community asset, “ Mr Gregory said.
He said construction was on track and the passenger terminal designs were currently being finalised.
“The runway will be completed in April next year, followed by the terminal in August with the airport due to be operational this time next year,” Mr Gregory said.
All materials used in the runway construction have been sourced on site with more than 10 million tonnes of rock expected to be used in the construction of the airport precinct.
Chairman of Wagner’s Global Services, John Wagner, said 18,098 people had “voted with their feet” in support of the airport, and the open day was incident free.
“The airport is well and truly on track, it’s going extremely well,” he said.
“We’re getting a hell of a lot of interest now around the export of fresh produce, horticulture and beef.
“We’re working hard to get those industries together to see if there’s an opportunity there.”

SIDEBAR
THE Department of Defence says the Wellcamp Airport will have a negligible impact on military flying.
A recent media report claimed the new airport on the outskirts of Toowoomba had defence chiefs concerned Wellcamp “will compromise operations at two nearby military bases”.
A spokesperson for the Department of Defence said, in response to questions from the Free Times that the current “airspace design is not suitable for concurrent military flying at Oakey and civil flights at Wellcamp” but changes will accommodate the new airport.
Airspace issues will be resolved by an “Airspace Change Proposal”, Defence said.
“The changes modify the existing military airspace to allow for continued complex Army Aviation training at Oakey and Air Force operations at Amberley without precluding civilian operations in and out of the proposed Wellcamp airport,” the spokesperson said.
The Airspace Change Proposal will involve a reduction in restricted military airspace surrounding Oakey and a minor change at Amberley.
Under the proposal, the standing permission for civil aircraft to flight plan through Oakey’s airspace will be limited to ensure military training can continue within the revised airspace without further disruption from civil aircraft.
“The proposed restricted military airspace will be somewhat smaller but with fewer civil aircraft transiting it, resulting in a negligible net impact on military flying,” the spokesperson said.
Chairman of Wagner’s Global Services, John Wagner, said the airport developers were “very happy” with the outcome of negotiations over the airport.
“Everyone got what they needed,” Mr Wagner said.