Airport News
The developer of Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba, Queensland, is calling for expressions of interest for retail and hospitality leases at the airport, which is due to open towards the end of the year.
The terminal precinct has already attracted interest from national food chains and Australian car rental firms.
“We have received substantial inquires from some major food outlets regarding the airport terminal and expect to have more formal commitments in the coming months,” said Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport general manager, Phil Gregory.
Once opened, the airport will feature a 2.87km runway with passenger jet capabilities, an airport terminal with 800m² of retail space available in stage one, and a business park. With the runway only a few months away from completion, the first flights are expected in October this year.
Gregory also confirmed negotiations with major airlines were underway and that routes are expected to be confirmed in the next few months.
“It’s a very exciting time and Toowoomba and Surat Basin is one of Australia’s hottest investment areas right now with more than AU$6bn (£3bn) currently being invested in the region. We expect the airport to inject about AU$318m (£172m) into the local economy in the first three years of operation, along with the creation of more than 2,000 jobs,” added Gregory.
Along with the AU$100m-plus (£54m) airport other key projects in the area include the AU$350m (£190m) redevelopment of Toowoomba’s Grand Central Gardens Town Shopping Centre, the AU$1.66bn (£900m) Toowoomba Second Range Crossing and the AU$235m (£127m) Interlink SQ, an intermodal centre for southern Queensland.
The terminal – designed by Canberra-based Guida Moseley Brown (GMB) Architects and being built by FKG Gardner and Sons Group – is expected to be finished by the end of August.
The terminal is being built in two stages with the first 8,000m² comprising core infrastructure such as 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.
The second phase will allow the current facilities to expand into an additional 4,500m² area as passenger numbers increase.
