D-Day for power prices with electricity bills to rise - Toowoomba Chronicle

• APN Newsdesk


• 30th May 2014 10:10 AM

QUEENSLANDERS to learn how hard they will be hit by higher power prices.

QUEENSLANDERS will today find out how much extra they are going to pay on their power bills each year.

Just days before the LNP Government releases its final state budget for this term, the Queensland Competition Authority will publish its final decision on increasing the cost of electricity.

The QCA is expected to stick closely to its draft decision made in December last year that put the increase by $192 per year for the average user, from $1407 to $1599.

The numbers assumed Australia would keep its carbon tax.

If abolished, electricity bills would rise $76 a year, to $1483.

The Queensland Opposition is already on the attack over the expected increase, pointing to a promise by the LNP before its election to reduce the cost-of-living for Queenslanders.

Shadow treasurer Curtis Pitt told ABC Radio the Premier was yet to deliver the $120 per year in savings he promised.

Mr Pitt said it was wrong of the government to blame the carbon tax for the increases because the Premier knew there would always be a carbon tax and it should have been included when numbers were crunched.

He said the carbon tax contributed just 3% to electricity bills, although the QCA estimates this to be closer to 8%.

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Massive development spending lures investors to family-owned Toowoomba ... - Courier Mail

Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Source: Supplied

QUEENSLAND’S newest boom zone, the Toowoomba region, will now see billions of dollars more investment than anticipated six months ago, with experts predicting it would also spark more merger and acquisition activity locally.

Regional development body, Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, estimated that more than $11 billion in total development spending was going into the area - almost double estimates put out just six months ago.

“Proposed projects for the region, which include the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail Project and a new Bunnings, totalled more than $5.8 billion, while projects currently underway totalled more than $3.5 billion,” according to the TBSE’s May Development Status Report of the Toowoomba Regional Council Area. “Projects approved and awaiting commencement totalled more than $2.1 billion.”

TBSE chief executive Shane Charles said the real development figure overall was much higher, given the $11B excluded “a vast number of developments under the $2 million construction cost threshold”.

“No other regional city, nor capital city for that matter, will be able to boast the amount of infrastructure development occurring,” Mr Charles said. “We will no doubt become the epicentre of infrastructure. I look forward to seeing some major growth in our region over the coming years.”

Wagner Brothers: John, Joe, Denis and Neill standing on the edge of the taxi runway last year at the Wellcamp Airport construction site approx 20km west of Toowoomba along the Cecil Plains Road. pic David Martinelli Source: News Limited

With $11B being spent in the Toowoomba and Surat Basin region over next few years, the area’s mostly family-owned companies could soon see a flood of offers, experts predict, and stand to make millions off strategic arrangements, partnerships, and takeovers as more investors’ heads are drawn to Queensland’s southwest.

Brisbane-based Interfinancial Corporate Finance, which has worked on an array of business sales, capital raising, valuations and structuring, expects the billions in development activity to lead to mergers and acquisitions in the region.

Interfinancial associate director Mark Steinhardt told The Courier-Mail that the key challenge for businesses in the region was how to fund enormous rates of growth that were occurring.

“Just normal working capital kind of issues can often cripple a small business. If you’re growing at 50 per cent or more a year, and many (in the Toowoomba region) are, how do you fund that for your receivables, pay staff wages etc, when creditors will only pay you in 40 or 60 days time?”

That same growth was what was attracting investors to commit to a region that “sometimes falls under the radar of companies focused on capital cities”.

Workers on an Easternwell Group mining project in the Surat Basin in Toowoomba, Queensland. Source: Supplied

“Toowoomba is a hub for much of the production which happens West of Brisbane. In a typical year, over 50 per cent of the goods emanating to and from the Port of Brisbane are from Toowoomba and West,” he said.

“The region supports a range of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing and mining services (amongst others). This makes it less prone to the boom and bust cycles of Queensland’s other major towns.”

As well input costs and reliability for employers was high because the area had a less transient workforce, he said, and the icing on the cake was the range of new projects across multiple industries.

“Now you’ve got big families like the Oswalds and the Wagners in Toowoomba that have really massive businesses and they’re not just working up there but coming down and doing work elsewhere. The good thing is they’ve got that family feel still and have been quietly developing over many decades.”

Major M & A transactions in last 5 years:

$35M - AP Eagers paid for Craig Black Group

$45.1M - Australian Food & Fibre paid for PrimeAg

$4.9M - Tox Free Solutions paid for Absolute Waste Services

$61.7M - ERM Power paid for 50% of Oakey Power Station

$592M - Transfield Services paid for Easternwell

$173M - Boral paid for Wagners Group Construction Materials Assets

$1M - Greencross paid for 49% of Vets Toowoomba

Size of deals not disclosed:

QIC for 25% of Ostwald Construction Materials

United Petroleum for Dalby Bio-Refinery

VTS IT for Downs MicroSystems

Source: Interfinancial

Massive development spending lures investors to family-owned Toowoomba ... - Courier Mail

Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Source: Supplied

QUEENSLAND’S newest boom zone, the Toowoomba region, will now see billions of dollars more investment than anticipated six months ago, with experts predicting it would also spark more merger and acquisition activity locally.

Regional development body, Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, estimated that more than $11 billion in total development spending was going into the area - almost double estimates put out just six months ago.

“Proposed projects for the region, which include the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail Project and a new Bunnings, totalled more than $5.8 billion, while projects currently underway totalled more than $3.5 billion,” according to the TBSE’s May Development Status Report of the Toowoomba Regional Council Area. “Projects approved and awaiting commencement totalled more than $2.1 billion.”

TBSE chief executive Shane Charles said the real development figure overall was much higher, given the $11B excluded “a vast number of developments under the $2 million construction cost threshold”.

“No other regional city, nor capital city for that matter, will be able to boast the amount of infrastructure development occurring,” Mr Charles said. “We will no doubt become the epicentre of infrastructure. I look forward to seeing some major growth in our region over the coming years.”

Wagner Brothers: John, Joe, Denis and Neill standing on the edge of the taxi runway last year at the Wellcamp Airport construction site approx 20km west of Toowoomba along the Cecil Plains Road. pic David Martinelli Source: News Limited

With $11B being spent in the Toowoomba and Surat Basin region over next few years, the area’s mostly family-owned companies could soon see a flood of offers, experts predict, and stand to make millions off strategic arrangements, partnerships, and takeovers as more investors’ heads are drawn to Queensland’s southwest.

Brisbane-based Interfinancial Corporate Finance, which has worked on an array of business sales, capital raising, valuations and structuring, expects the billions in development activity to lead to mergers and acquisitions in the region.

Interfinancial associate director Mark Steinhardt told The Courier-Mail that the key challenge for businesses in the region was how to fund enormous rates of growth that were occurring.

“Just normal working capital kind of issues can often cripple a small business. If you’re growing at 50 per cent or more a year, and many (in the Toowoomba region) are, how do you fund that for your receivables, pay staff wages etc, when creditors will only pay you in 40 or 60 days time?”

That same growth was what was attracting investors to commit to a region that “sometimes falls under the radar of companies focused on capital cities”.

Workers on an Easternwell Group mining project in the Surat Basin in Toowoomba, Queensland. Source: Supplied

“Toowoomba is a hub for much of the production which happens West of Brisbane. In a typical year, over 50 per cent of the goods emanating to and from the Port of Brisbane are from Toowoomba and West,” he said.

“The region supports a range of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing and mining services (amongst others). This makes it less prone to the boom and bust cycles of Queensland’s other major towns.”

As well input costs and reliability for employers was high because the area had a less transient workforce, he said, and the icing on the cake was the range of new projects across multiple industries.

“Now you’ve got big families like the Oswalds and the Wagners in Toowoomba that have really massive businesses and they’re not just working up there but coming down and doing work elsewhere. The good thing is they’ve got that family feel still and have been quietly developing over many decades.”

Major M & A transactions in last 5 years:

$35M - AP Eagers paid for Craig Black Group

$45.1M - Australian Food & Fibre paid for PrimeAg

$4.9M - Tox Free Solutions paid for Absolute Waste Services

$61.7M - ERM Power paid for 50% of Oakey Power Station

$592M - Transfield Services paid for Easternwell

$173M - Boral paid for Wagners Group Construction Materials Assets

$1M - Greencross paid for 49% of Vets Toowoomba

Size of deals not disclosed:

QIC for 25% of Ostwald Construction Materials

United Petroleum for Dalby Bio-Refinery

VTS IT for Downs MicroSystems

Source: Interfinancial

Massive development spending lures investors to family-owned Toowoomba ... - Courier Mail

Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Source: Supplied

QUEENSLAND’S newest boom zone, the Toowoomba region, will now see billions of dollars more investment than anticipated six months ago, with experts predicting it would also spark more merger and acquisition activity locally.

Regional development body, Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, estimated that more than $11 billion in total development spending was going into the area - almost double estimates put out just six months ago.

“Proposed projects for the region, which include the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail Project and a new Bunnings, totalled more than $5.8 billion, while projects currently underway totalled more than $3.5 billion,” according to the TBSE’s May Development Status Report of the Toowoomba Regional Council Area. “Projects approved and awaiting commencement totalled more than $2.1 billion.”

TBSE chief executive Shane Charles said the real development figure overall was much higher, given the $11B excluded “a vast number of developments under the $2 million construction cost threshold”.

“No other regional city, nor capital city for that matter, will be able to boast the amount of infrastructure development occurring,” Mr Charles said. “We will no doubt become the epicentre of infrastructure. I look forward to seeing some major growth in our region over the coming years.”

Wagner Brothers: John, Joe, Denis and Neill standing on the edge of the taxi runway last year at the Wellcamp Airport construction site approx 20km west of Toowoomba along the Cecil Plains Road. pic David Martinelli Source: News Limited

With $11B being spent in the Toowoomba and Surat Basin region over next few years, the area’s mostly family-owned companies could soon see a flood of offers, experts predict, and stand to make millions off strategic arrangements, partnerships, and takeovers as more investors’ heads are drawn to Queensland’s southwest.

Brisbane-based Interfinancial Corporate Finance, which has worked on an array of business sales, capital raising, valuations and structuring, expects the billions in development activity to lead to mergers and acquisitions in the region.

Interfinancial associate director Mark Steinhardt told The Courier-Mail that the key challenge for businesses in the region was how to fund enormous rates of growth that were occurring.

“Just normal working capital kind of issues can often cripple a small business. If you’re growing at 50 per cent or more a year, and many (in the Toowoomba region) are, how do you fund that for your receivables, pay staff wages etc, when creditors will only pay you in 40 or 60 days time?”

That same growth was what was attracting investors to commit to a region that “sometimes falls under the radar of companies focused on capital cities”.

Workers on an Easternwell Group mining project in the Surat Basin in Toowoomba, Queensland. Source: Supplied

“Toowoomba is a hub for much of the production which happens West of Brisbane. In a typical year, over 50 per cent of the goods emanating to and from the Port of Brisbane are from Toowoomba and West,” he said.

“The region supports a range of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing and mining services (amongst others). This makes it less prone to the boom and bust cycles of Queensland’s other major towns.”

As well input costs and reliability for employers was high because the area had a less transient workforce, he said, and the icing on the cake was the range of new projects across multiple industries.

“Now you’ve got big families like the Oswalds and the Wagners in Toowoomba that have really massive businesses and they’re not just working up there but coming down and doing work elsewhere. The good thing is they’ve got that family feel still and have been quietly developing over many decades.”

Major M & A transactions in last 5 years:

$35M - AP Eagers paid for Craig Black Group

$45.1M - Australian Food & Fibre paid for PrimeAg

$4.9M - Tox Free Solutions paid for Absolute Waste Services

$61.7M - ERM Power paid for 50% of Oakey Power Station

$592M - Transfield Services paid for Easternwell

$173M - Boral paid for Wagners Group Construction Materials Assets

$1M - Greencross paid for 49% of Vets Toowoomba

Size of deals not disclosed:

QIC for 25% of Ostwald Construction Materials

United Petroleum for Dalby Bio-Refinery

VTS IT for Downs MicroSystems

Source: Interfinancial

Massive development spending lures investors to family-owned Toowoomba ... - Courier Mail

Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Source: Supplied

QUEENSLAND’S newest boom zone, the Toowoomba region, will now see billions of dollars more investment than anticipated six months ago, with experts predicting it would also spark more merger and acquisition activity locally.

Regional development body, Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, estimated that more than $11 billion in total development spending was going into the area - almost double estimates put out just six months ago.

“Proposed projects for the region, which include the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail Project and a new Bunnings, totalled more than $5.8 billion, while projects currently underway totalled more than $3.5 billion,” according to the TBSE’s May Development Status Report of the Toowoomba Regional Council Area. “Projects approved and awaiting commencement totalled more than $2.1 billion.”

TBSE chief executive Shane Charles said the real development figure overall was much higher, given the $11B excluded “a vast number of developments under the $2 million construction cost threshold”.

“No other regional city, nor capital city for that matter, will be able to boast the amount of infrastructure development occurring,” Mr Charles said. “We will no doubt become the epicentre of infrastructure. I look forward to seeing some major growth in our region over the coming years.”

Wagner Brothers: John, Joe, Denis and Neill standing on the edge of the taxi runway last year at the Wellcamp Airport construction site approx 20km west of Toowoomba along the Cecil Plains Road. pic David Martinelli Source: News Limited

With $11B being spent in the Toowoomba and Surat Basin region over next few years, the area’s mostly family-owned companies could soon see a flood of offers, experts predict, and stand to make millions off strategic arrangements, partnerships, and takeovers as more investors’ heads are drawn to Queensland’s southwest.

Brisbane-based Interfinancial Corporate Finance, which has worked on an array of business sales, capital raising, valuations and structuring, expects the billions in development activity to lead to mergers and acquisitions in the region.

Interfinancial associate director Mark Steinhardt told The Courier-Mail that the key challenge for businesses in the region was how to fund enormous rates of growth that were occurring.

“Just normal working capital kind of issues can often cripple a small business. If you’re growing at 50 per cent or more a year, and many (in the Toowoomba region) are, how do you fund that for your receivables, pay staff wages etc, when creditors will only pay you in 40 or 60 days time?”

That same growth was what was attracting investors to commit to a region that “sometimes falls under the radar of companies focused on capital cities”.

Workers on an Easternwell Group mining project in the Surat Basin in Toowoomba, Queensland. Source: Supplied

“Toowoomba is a hub for much of the production which happens West of Brisbane. In a typical year, over 50 per cent of the goods emanating to and from the Port of Brisbane are from Toowoomba and West,” he said.

“The region supports a range of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing and mining services (amongst others). This makes it less prone to the boom and bust cycles of Queensland’s other major towns.”

As well input costs and reliability for employers was high because the area had a less transient workforce, he said, and the icing on the cake was the range of new projects across multiple industries.

“Now you’ve got big families like the Oswalds and the Wagners in Toowoomba that have really massive businesses and they’re not just working up there but coming down and doing work elsewhere. The good thing is they’ve got that family feel still and have been quietly developing over many decades.”

Major M & A transactions in last 5 years:

$35M - AP Eagers paid for Craig Black Group

$45.1M - Australian Food & Fibre paid for PrimeAg

$4.9M - Tox Free Solutions paid for Absolute Waste Services

$61.7M - ERM Power paid for 50% of Oakey Power Station

$592M - Transfield Services paid for Easternwell

$173M - Boral paid for Wagners Group Construction Materials Assets

$1M - Greencross paid for 49% of Vets Toowoomba

Size of deals not disclosed:

QIC for 25% of Ostwald Construction Materials

United Petroleum for Dalby Bio-Refinery

VTS IT for Downs MicroSystems

Source: Interfinancial

Massive development spending lures investors to family-owned Toowoomba ... - Courier Mail

Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Source: Supplied

QUEENSLAND’S newest boom zone, the Toowoomba region, will now see billions of dollars more investment than anticipated six months ago, with experts predicting it would also spark more merger and acquisition activity locally.

Regional development body, Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, estimated that more than $11 billion in total development spending was going into the area - almost double estimates put out just six months ago.

“Proposed projects for the region, which include the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail Project and a new Bunnings, totalled more than $5.8 billion, while projects currently underway totalled more than $3.5 billion,” according to the TBSE’s May Development Status Report of the Toowoomba Regional Council Area. “Projects approved and awaiting commencement totalled more than $2.1 billion.”

TBSE chief executive Shane Charles said the real development figure overall was much higher, given the $11B excluded “a vast number of developments under the $2 million construction cost threshold”.

“No other regional city, nor capital city for that matter, will be able to boast the amount of infrastructure development occurring,” Mr Charles said. “We will no doubt become the epicentre of infrastructure. I look forward to seeing some major growth in our region over the coming years.”

Wagner Brothers: John, Joe, Denis and Neill standing on the edge of the taxi runway last year at the Wellcamp Airport construction site approx 20km west of Toowoomba along the Cecil Plains Road. pic David Martinelli Source: News Limited

With $11B being spent in the Toowoomba and Surat Basin region over next few years, the area’s mostly family-owned companies could soon see a flood of offers, experts predict, and stand to make millions off strategic arrangements, partnerships, and takeovers as more investors’ heads are drawn to Queensland’s southwest.

Brisbane-based Interfinancial Corporate Finance, which has worked on an array of business sales, capital raising, valuations and structuring, expects the billions in development activity to lead to mergers and acquisitions in the region.

Interfinancial associate director Mark Steinhardt told The Courier-Mail that the key challenge for businesses in the region was how to fund enormous rates of growth that were occurring.

“Just normal working capital kind of issues can often cripple a small business. If you’re growing at 50 per cent or more a year, and many (in the Toowoomba region) are, how do you fund that for your receivables, pay staff wages etc, when creditors will only pay you in 40 or 60 days time?”

That same growth was what was attracting investors to commit to a region that “sometimes falls under the radar of companies focused on capital cities”.

Workers on an Easternwell Group mining project in the Surat Basin in Toowoomba, Queensland. Source: Supplied

“Toowoomba is a hub for much of the production which happens West of Brisbane. In a typical year, over 50 per cent of the goods emanating to and from the Port of Brisbane are from Toowoomba and West,” he said.

“The region supports a range of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing and mining services (amongst others). This makes it less prone to the boom and bust cycles of Queensland’s other major towns.”

As well input costs and reliability for employers was high because the area had a less transient workforce, he said, and the icing on the cake was the range of new projects across multiple industries.

“Now you’ve got big families like the Oswalds and the Wagners in Toowoomba that have really massive businesses and they’re not just working up there but coming down and doing work elsewhere. The good thing is they’ve got that family feel still and have been quietly developing over many decades.”

Major M & A transactions in last 5 years:

$35M - AP Eagers paid for Craig Black Group

$45.1M - Australian Food & Fibre paid for PrimeAg

$4.9M - Tox Free Solutions paid for Absolute Waste Services

$61.7M - ERM Power paid for 50% of Oakey Power Station

$592M - Transfield Services paid for Easternwell

$173M - Boral paid for Wagners Group Construction Materials Assets

$1M - Greencross paid for 49% of Vets Toowoomba

Size of deals not disclosed:

QIC for 25% of Ostwald Construction Materials

United Petroleum for Dalby Bio-Refinery

VTS IT for Downs MicroSystems

Source: Interfinancial

Kiwi raider Military Move chases Toowoomba Cup - Toowoomba Chronicle

HOME-TOWN HOPE: Trainer Doug Johnson and Carn will prepare to tackle Sunday's $100,000 Toowoomba Cup. Nancy Evans / Dalby Herald

NEW Zealand trainer Shaune Ritchie will aim to win Sunday's $100,000 Toowoomba Cup (2160m) with Military Move after nominations were released Monday.

Military Move ran sixth behind Zephyron in Saturday's Group Three Premier's Cup at Doomben and is one of 14 nominations for Toowoomba's distance feature.

The former Group One winner heads a list of entries that also includes fellow Kiwi Lauren Tate, Paul Nolan Jnr's Secret Garden and in-form Toowoomba gelding King Ludwig.

Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie has also nominated Rothera for the 2160 metre feature at Clifford Park.

The Toowoomba Cup is one of eight races set down for Sunday's meeting at Clifford Park.

There is no Saturday twilight meeting this week due to the Toowoomba Cup on Sunday, with racing at Goondiwindi and Nanango this Saturday.

Toowoomba Cup noms

Carn (Doug Johnson), Cross The Star (Sel Andrew), Extreme Mover (Patrick Sexton), Flying Home (Barry Baldwin), Isavenger (Kenneth Deacon), King Ludwig (Paul Facoory), Kurtley (Leon Davies), Lauren Tate (John Morrell), Military Move (Shaune Ritchie), Mr Light Blue (Barry Baldwin), Ongoing Venture (Darlene Duryea), Rothera (Ben Currie), Sam's Town (Robert Heathcote), Secret Garden (Paul Nolan Jnr)

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Kiwi raider Military Move chases Toowoomba Cup - Toowoomba Chronicle

HOME-TOWN HOPE: Trainer Doug Johnson and Carn will prepare to tackle Sunday's $100,000 Toowoomba Cup. Nancy Evans / Dalby Herald

NEW Zealand trainer Shaune Ritchie will aim to win Sunday's $100,000 Toowoomba Cup (2160m) with Military Move after nominations were released Monday.

Military Move ran sixth behind Zephyron in Saturday's Group Three Premier's Cup at Doomben and is one of 14 nominations for Toowoomba's distance feature.

The former Group One winner heads a list of entries that also includes fellow Kiwi Lauren Tate, Paul Nolan Jnr's Secret Garden and in-form Toowoomba gelding King Ludwig.

Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie has also nominated Rothera for the 2160 metre feature at Clifford Park.

The Toowoomba Cup is one of eight races set down for Sunday's meeting at Clifford Park.

There is no Saturday twilight meeting this week due to the Toowoomba Cup on Sunday, with racing at Goondiwindi and Nanango this Saturday.

Toowoomba Cup noms

Carn (Doug Johnson), Cross The Star (Sel Andrew), Extreme Mover (Patrick Sexton), Flying Home (Barry Baldwin), Isavenger (Kenneth Deacon), King Ludwig (Paul Facoory), Kurtley (Leon Davies), Lauren Tate (John Morrell), Military Move (Shaune Ritchie), Mr Light Blue (Barry Baldwin), Ongoing Venture (Darlene Duryea), Rothera (Ben Currie), Sam's Town (Robert Heathcote), Secret Garden (Paul Nolan Jnr)

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Agricultural freight a focus for Toowoomba's airport - ABC Local

Updated May 22, 2014 17:15:56

Australia's first privately funded public airport is nearing completion and it has big plans for agricultural freight.

The project is being built by the Wagner family and will cost well north of $100 million dollars.

Construction is taking place around the clock in preparation for an October opening.

The airport will be located 15 kilometres west of Toowoomba in southern Queensland, but it has the slightly confusing name of Brisbane West Wellcamp airport.

A 2.9 kilometre runway is being built as well as a terminal of 8,300 square metres and a 500-hectare industrial and commercial business park.

The Toowoomba Regional Council is the biggest producer of agriculture in Queensland and the second biggest producer in Australia.

As a result Chairman of Wagner Global Services John Wagner told the Queensland Rural Press Club today that agricultural freight will form a large part of the freight service at the airport.

"We want to value add to the products here and send them into Asia and we're making good inroads into that.

"We're in discussions with agricultural producers, the people who currently export and the people who want to export.

"What we've found is there is a very strong will to work collaboratively to get something to happen."

It's expected fresh fruit and vegetables, chilled beef, live cattle, sheep, goats and fresh flowers, among other products, will be exported.

Topics: agribusiness, air-transport, toowoomba-4350

First posted May 22, 2014 15:50:32

Agricultural freight a focus for Toowoomba's airport - ABC Local

Updated May 22, 2014 17:15:56

Australia's first privately funded public airport is nearing completion and it has big plans for agricultural freight.

The project is being built by the Wagner family and will cost well north of $100 million dollars.

Construction is taking place around the clock in preparation for an October opening.

The airport will be located 15 kilometres west of Toowoomba in southern Queensland, but it has the slightly confusing name of Brisbane West Wellcamp airport.

A 2.9 kilometre runway is being built as well as a terminal of 8,300 square metres and a 500-hectare industrial and commercial business park.

The Toowoomba Regional Council is the biggest producer of agriculture in Queensland and the second biggest producer in Australia.

As a result Chairman of Wagner Global Services John Wagner told the Queensland Rural Press Club today that agricultural freight will form a large part of the freight service at the airport.

"We want to value add to the products here and send them into Asia and we're making good inroads into that.

"We're in discussions with agricultural producers, the people who currently export and the people who want to export.

"What we've found is there is a very strong will to work collaboratively to get something to happen."

It's expected fresh fruit and vegetables, chilled beef, live cattle, sheep, goats and fresh flowers, among other products, will be exported.

Topics: agribusiness, air-transport, toowoomba-4350

First posted May 22, 2014 15:50:32

Agricultural freight a focus for Toowoomba's airport - ABC Local

Updated May 22, 2014 17:15:56

Australia's first privately funded public airport is nearing completion and it has big plans for agricultural freight.

The project is being built by the Wagner family and will cost well north of $100 million dollars.

Construction is taking place around the clock in preparation for an October opening.

The airport will be located 15 kilometres west of Toowoomba in southern Queensland, but it has the slightly confusing name of Brisbane West Wellcamp airport.

A 2.9 kilometre runway is being built as well as a terminal of 8,300 square metres and a 500-hectare industrial and commercial business park.

The Toowoomba Regional Council is the biggest producer of agriculture in Queensland and the second biggest producer in Australia.

As a result Chairman of Wagner Global Services John Wagner told the Queensland Rural Press Club today that agricultural freight will form a large part of the freight service at the airport.

"We want to value add to the products here and send them into Asia and we're making good inroads into that.

"We're in discussions with agricultural producers, the people who currently export and the people who want to export.

"What we've found is there is a very strong will to work collaboratively to get something to happen."

It's expected fresh fruit and vegetables, chilled beef, live cattle, sheep, goats and fresh flowers, among other products, will be exported.

Topics: agribusiness, air-transport, toowoomba-4350

First posted May 22, 2014 15:50:32

Agricultural freight a focus for Toowoomba's airport - ABC Local

Updated May 22, 2014 17:15:56

Australia's first privately funded public airport is nearing completion and it has big plans for agricultural freight.

The project is being built by the Wagner family and will cost well north of $100 million dollars.

Construction is taking place around the clock in preparation for an October opening.

The airport will be located 15 kilometres west of Toowoomba in southern Queensland, but it has the slightly confusing name of Brisbane West Wellcamp airport.

A 2.9 kilometre runway is being built as well as a terminal of 8,300 square metres and a 500-hectare industrial and commercial business park.

The Toowoomba Regional Council is the biggest producer of agriculture in Queensland and the second biggest producer in Australia.

As a result Chairman of Wagner Global Services John Wagner told the Queensland Rural Press Club today that agricultural freight will form a large part of the freight service at the airport.

"We want to value add to the products here and send them into Asia and we're making good inroads into that.

"We're in discussions with agricultural producers, the people who currently export and the people who want to export.

"What we've found is there is a very strong will to work collaboratively to get something to happen."

It's expected fresh fruit and vegetables, chilled beef, live cattle, sheep, goats and fresh flowers, among other products, will be exported.

Topics: agribusiness, air-transport, toowoomba-4350

First posted May 22, 2014 15:50:32

Toowoomba's new airport terminal is preparing for take-off - Courier Mail

Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport general manager Phil Gregory. Picture: Jamie Hanson Source: News Limited

TOOWOOMBA’S new airport is preparing for take-off, with major airlines being courted and only months until the first planes hit the tarmac.

Brisbane West Wellcamp, the first Australian airport to be built from scratch in almost five decades, is starting to take shape, with the four-gate terminal and 2.8km runway well underway for its grand opening later this year.

The airport is being built by family-owned company Wagners, the Toowoomba-based construction, concrete and transport juggernaut, with the project expected to cost $100 million or more and provide a $452 million boost to the local economy by 2019.

Wagner Global Services chairman, John Wagner, said the company was feeling “very positive” about the progress of the airport, with the first planes due to start serving the area in October.

“The business community in Toowoomba just can’t wait for it to happen,” he said.

“We had a survey done and 89 per cent of the business community said that we’d improve their businesses significantly.”

The company is courting major airlines, hoping to get them to sign on the dotted line to provide major routes in and out of the town.

Mr Wagner said he was “absolutely confident” that negotiations with the airlines would be fruitful.

“We’re dealing with all the airlines at the moment, negotiating routes and commercial terms and conditions,” he said.

“We’re getting a lot of interest. It’s a very good market, and they can see that.”

Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport general manager Phil Gregory said around 150 Wagners’ staff were working around the clock to complete the airport with the which is airport expected to be fully functional by the beginning of November.

The runway will be capable of catering for fully-loaded 747s, but Mr Gregory said that was not the focus of the airport.

“We’re under no illusions that 747s are going to come here to pick up passengers. It’s not about that, but we can certainly see an opportunity for freight, so a 747 of chilled beef or high-value exports,” he said.

“For the passenger market we certainly see, in time, 737s here, but I think on day one it will be smaller aircraft.”

He said the airport would cater to the 344,000 people within their catchment area, and the second range crossing would make it an attractive option for people in Ipswich and the western suburbs of Brisbane

“It will be 100km/h from the front door of Brisbane West to Ipswich, so that will be about a 50-minute travel time,” he said.

“We think there’s a real opportunity for the people of the western suburbs of Brisbane to make a decision to come up the hill.”

The second range crossing is just one of the works slated for Toowoomba, with more than $6.5 billion being invested in major regional projects including the Grand Central shopping centre, a high-end hotel and mining investments.

“Toowoomba is just booming flat out at the moment, there’s just heaps happening. We’ve got the mining boom and a really booming economy, so it just really stacks up and all the airlines are keen,” Mr Gregory said.

Toowoomba's new airport terminal is preparing for take-off - Courier Mail

Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport general manager Phil Gregory. Picture: Jamie Hanson Source: News Limited

TOOWOOMBA’S new airport is preparing for take-off, with major airlines being courted and only months until the first planes hit the tarmac.

Brisbane West Wellcamp, the first Australian airport to be built from scratch in almost five decades, is starting to take shape, with the four-gate terminal and 2.8km runway well underway for its grand opening later this year.

The airport is being built by family-owned company Wagners, the Toowoomba-based construction, concrete and transport juggernaut, with the project expected to cost $100 million or more and provide a $452 million boost to the local economy by 2019.

Wagner Global Services chairman, John Wagner, said the company was feeling “very positive” about the progress of the airport, with the first planes due to start serving the area in October.

“The business community in Toowoomba just can’t wait for it to happen,” he said.

“We had a survey done and 89 per cent of the business community said that we’d improve their businesses significantly.”

The company is courting major airlines, hoping to get them to sign on the dotted line to provide major routes in and out of the town.

Mr Wagner said he was “absolutely confident” that negotiations with the airlines would be fruitful.

“We’re dealing with all the airlines at the moment, negotiating routes and commercial terms and conditions,” he said.

“We’re getting a lot of interest. It’s a very good market, and they can see that.”

Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport general manager Phil Gregory said around 150 Wagners’ staff were working around the clock to complete the airport with the which is airport expected to be fully functional by the beginning of November.

The runway will be capable of catering for fully-loaded 747s, but Mr Gregory said that was not the focus of the airport.

“We’re under no illusions that 747s are going to come here to pick up passengers. It’s not about that, but we can certainly see an opportunity for freight, so a 747 of chilled beef or high-value exports,” he said.

“For the passenger market we certainly see, in time, 737s here, but I think on day one it will be smaller aircraft.”

He said the airport would cater to the 344,000 people within their catchment area, and the second range crossing would make it an attractive option for people in Ipswich and the western suburbs of Brisbane

“It will be 100km/h from the front door of Brisbane West to Ipswich, so that will be about a 50-minute travel time,” he said.

“We think there’s a real opportunity for the people of the western suburbs of Brisbane to make a decision to come up the hill.”

The second range crossing is just one of the works slated for Toowoomba, with more than $6.5 billion being invested in major regional projects including the Grand Central shopping centre, a high-end hotel and mining investments.

“Toowoomba is just booming flat out at the moment, there’s just heaps happening. We’ve got the mining boom and a really booming economy, so it just really stacks up and all the airlines are keen,” Mr Gregory said.

Toowoomba's new airport terminal is preparing for take-off - Courier Mail

Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport general manager Phil Gregory. Picture: Jamie Hanson Source: News Limited

TOOWOOMBA’S new airport is preparing for take-off, with major airlines being courted and only months until the first planes hit the tarmac.

Brisbane West Wellcamp, the first Australian airport to be built from scratch in almost five decades, is starting to take shape, with the four-gate terminal and 2.8km runway well underway for its grand opening later this year.

The airport is being built by family-owned company Wagners, the Toowoomba-based construction, concrete and transport juggernaut, with the project expected to cost $100 million or more and provide a $452 million boost to the local economy by 2019.

Wagner Global Services chairman, John Wagner, said the company was feeling “very positive” about the progress of the airport, with the first planes due to start serving the area in October.

“The business community in Toowoomba just can’t wait for it to happen,” he said.

“We had a survey done and 89 per cent of the business community said that we’d improve their businesses significantly.”

The company is courting major airlines, hoping to get them to sign on the dotted line to provide major routes in and out of the town.

Mr Wagner said he was “absolutely confident” that negotiations with the airlines would be fruitful.

“We’re dealing with all the airlines at the moment, negotiating routes and commercial terms and conditions,” he said.

“We’re getting a lot of interest. It’s a very good market, and they can see that.”

Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport general manager Phil Gregory said around 150 Wagners’ staff were working around the clock to complete the airport with the which is airport expected to be fully functional by the beginning of November.

The runway will be capable of catering for fully-loaded 747s, but Mr Gregory said that was not the focus of the airport.

“We’re under no illusions that 747s are going to come here to pick up passengers. It’s not about that, but we can certainly see an opportunity for freight, so a 747 of chilled beef or high-value exports,” he said.

“For the passenger market we certainly see, in time, 737s here, but I think on day one it will be smaller aircraft.”

He said the airport would cater to the 344,000 people within their catchment area, and the second range crossing would make it an attractive option for people in Ipswich and the western suburbs of Brisbane

“It will be 100km/h from the front door of Brisbane West to Ipswich, so that will be about a 50-minute travel time,” he said.

“We think there’s a real opportunity for the people of the western suburbs of Brisbane to make a decision to come up the hill.”

The second range crossing is just one of the works slated for Toowoomba, with more than $6.5 billion being invested in major regional projects including the Grand Central shopping centre, a high-end hotel and mining investments.

“Toowoomba is just booming flat out at the moment, there’s just heaps happening. We’ve got the mining boom and a really booming economy, so it just really stacks up and all the airlines are keen,” Mr Gregory said.

Agricultural freight a focus for Toowoomba's airport - ABC Local

Updated May 22, 2014 17:15:56

Australia's first privately funded public airport is nearing completion and it has big plans for agricultural freight.

The project is being built by the Wagner family and will cost well north of $100 million dollars.

Construction is taking place around the clock in preparation for an October opening.

The airport will be located 15 kilometres west of Toowoomba in southern Queensland, but it has the slightly confusing name of Brisbane West Wellcamp airport.

A 2.9 kilometre runway is being built as well as a terminal of 8,300 square metres and a 500-hectare industrial and commercial business park.

The Toowoomba Regional Council is the biggest producer of agriculture in Queensland and the second biggest producer in Australia.

As a result Chairman of Wagner Global Services John Wagner told the Queensland Rural Press Club today that agricultural freight will form a large part of the freight service at the airport.

"We want to value add to the products here and send them into Asia and we're making good inroads into that.

"We're in discussions with agricultural producers, the people who currently export and the people who want to export.

"What we've found is there is a very strong will to work collaboratively to get something to happen."

It's expected fresh fruit and vegetables, chilled beef, live cattle, sheep, goats and fresh flowers, among other products, will be exported.

Topics: agribusiness, air-transport, toowoomba-4350

First posted May 22, 2014 15:50:32

Carn's Toowoomba Cup bid on track after Clifford Park win - Toowoomba Chronicle

RACING AWAY: Jockey Brooke Stower rides Tartufo to victory at Clifford Park on Saturday night. Kevin Farmer

TOOWOOMBA trainer Doug Johnson hopes Carn's win at Clifford Park in Saturday night's Family Fun Day at Toowoomba Cup Benchmark 90 Handicap is enough to earn a spot in the Toowoomba Cup.

Carn returned from a two month hiatus to record a narrow ¼ length victory over the Legsman over 2000 metres, with race favourite Rothera six-and-a-half lengths back in last from the five-horse field.

Johnson brought seven-year-old Carn back with the hope of securing a start in the $100,000 Toowoomba Cup (2150m) on June 1.

"It was what I expected," Johnson said of Saturday night's victory. "He had eight weeks in between runs. That was the plan going towards the cup. I didn't know if he needed a win to get in."

Johnson only has Carn and a two-year-old in work but would love nothing more than to take out a Toowoomba Cup.

"It's one of those things you'd like to win living in Toowoomba," he said.

Punters were kept on their toes at Clifford Park on Saturday as three emergencies took out races on the seven-race card.

Makossa kicked that run off with a win in the Brisbane Bloodstock Sale Tomorrow Class 1 Handicap (1300m) when she edged out Fiery Girl.

It continued the next race when King Ludwig Skye Bogenhuber rode race favourite King Ludwig home in the Toowoomba Cup Lunch Packages on Sale Benchmark 80 Handicap (1300m).

Starlight Belle then came into the field for the Brown and Hurley Maiden Plate over 1100 metres and won for trainer Ben Currie.

Meanwhile, Racing Queensland has announced the June 15 meeting set down for Clifford Park has been transferred to Dalby's Bunya Park.

RQ chief executive Darren Condon said the move was made to give the fledgling Clifford Park grass track a break after a heavy schedule following the reinstatement of turf.

"We have had some reports from jockeys of high levels of wear and tear at Toowoomba on some sections of the track and the advice we received was that it could do with a break," Condon said.

"Whenever concerns are raised by jockeys or trainers, Racing Queensland, as the governing body, must look at solutions. In this situation the decision was made to transfer the meeting to Dalby."

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Carn's Toowoomba Cup bid on track after Clifford Park win - Toowoomba Chronicle

RACING AWAY: Jockey Brooke Stower rides Tartufo to victory at Clifford Park on Saturday night. Kevin Farmer

TOOWOOMBA trainer Doug Johnson hopes Carn's win at Clifford Park in Saturday night's Family Fun Day at Toowoomba Cup Benchmark 90 Handicap is enough to earn a spot in the Toowoomba Cup.

Carn returned from a two month hiatus to record a narrow ¼ length victory over the Legsman over 2000 metres, with race favourite Rothera six-and-a-half lengths back in last from the five-horse field.

Johnson brought seven-year-old Carn back with the hope of securing a start in the $100,000 Toowoomba Cup (2150m) on June 1.

"It was what I expected," Johnson said of Saturday night's victory. "He had eight weeks in between runs. That was the plan going towards the cup. I didn't know if he needed a win to get in."

Johnson only has Carn and a two-year-old in work but would love nothing more than to take out a Toowoomba Cup.

"It's one of those things you'd like to win living in Toowoomba," he said.

Punters were kept on their toes at Clifford Park on Saturday as three emergencies took out races on the seven-race card.

Makossa kicked that run off with a win in the Brisbane Bloodstock Sale Tomorrow Class 1 Handicap (1300m) when she edged out Fiery Girl.

It continued the next race when King Ludwig Skye Bogenhuber rode race favourite King Ludwig home in the Toowoomba Cup Lunch Packages on Sale Benchmark 80 Handicap (1300m).

Starlight Belle then came into the field for the Brown and Hurley Maiden Plate over 1100 metres and won for trainer Ben Currie.

Meanwhile, Racing Queensland has announced the June 15 meeting set down for Clifford Park has been transferred to Dalby's Bunya Park.

RQ chief executive Darren Condon said the move was made to give the fledgling Clifford Park grass track a break after a heavy schedule following the reinstatement of turf.

"We have had some reports from jockeys of high levels of wear and tear at Toowoomba on some sections of the track and the advice we received was that it could do with a break," Condon said.

"Whenever concerns are raised by jockeys or trainers, Racing Queensland, as the governing body, must look at solutions. In this situation the decision was made to transfer the meeting to Dalby."

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