News

Bypass creates two airport options for Brisbane locals

Jan 31, 2014

Brisbane’s western suburbs residents will soon have a choice of two airports for their Queensland-based and interstate travel.

The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC) – which today got the final green light – will make travelling time to the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport virtually the same as the drive to Brisbane Airport.

Wellcamp Airport general manager Mr Phil Gregory said the bypass was a vital piece of infrastructure that would improve connectivity between Toowoomba, Ipswich, Brisbane’s western suburbs residents and the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport, which is set to open later this year.

“The TSRC will give travellers a greater choice and for many a relaxing country drive to the airport will be far more appealing than battling the city traffic enroute to Brisbane Airport,” said Mr Gregory.

Mr Gregory said in additional to relatively the same travelling distance, parking would also be less expensive at the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport than at Brisbane Airport.

The $1.6 billion, 41 kilometre TSRC bypass route will border four kilometres of Toowoomba’s Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport and Business Park as it connects the Warrego Highway from Helidon in the east to Charlton, west of Toowoomba.

“While we didn’t have any input into the final bypass route – which has been set in stone by the State Government for many years – we are delighted with the outcome.

“The bypass will cement both Wellcamp Airport and the Toowoomba region as a major travel and freight hub for Queensland with direct connections from the airport to the Gore and Warrego highways,” he said.

Mr Gregory said construction of the bypass would not impact the development or future operations of the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport.

Currently under construction, Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport - which will have a 2.87km runaway - is Australia’s first privately owned, public airport with regular passenger services expected to start by October 2014.

The airport is currently in route development phase, with initial flights starting later this year expected to include Sydney, Melbourne, Emerald, Cairns, Mackay, Roma and Adelaide.

The multi-million-dollar project is being developed by the Wagner Family.

Mr Gregory said the Toowoomba-based airport would be known locally as Wellcamp Airport and Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport further afield.

“It’s important the airport is connected to the state’s capital city as a reference point, particularly for interstate and international travellers,” explained Mr Gregory.

For further details contact:

Karen McKinley
Wellcamp Airport Media and Communications Consultant
M: 0416 121 777
E: karen@thepunchgroup.com.au