IT was a historic day for Australian agriculture with many rural producers celebrating the inaugural international freight flight out of the privately owned Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport on Toowoomba’s outskirts.
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With annual agricultural production of more that $660 million, Wellcamp Airport is set to become a major international freight hub which could include live cattle export in the future.
Wagner's global chairman and airport developer John Wagner said the Monday's flight to Hong Kong has opened the door to direct access to the Asian market.
"It is an historic day and we hope to work with Cathay Pacific to secure scheduled services out of Wellcamp," Mr Wagner said.
“These are exciting times for rural producers and we anticipate endless possibilities for our region.
"I wouldn't be surprised if we had our first live cattle shipment in the next couple of months - about a 350 head consignment.”
Freight included chilled boxed primal cuts of beef from processors Bindaree Beef, Nippon Oakey, and Mort and Co, lettuce from Story Fresh, mangoes and pecan nuts, plus two helicopters manufactured on the Gold Coast.
According to Bindaree Beef chief financial officer, James Roger, the new international flights from Wellcamp were the key to the company’s growth and expansion into Asia as they would provide them with a faster time to key markets.
“We are fortunate that Wagners had the foresight to develop Australia’s first privately owned public airport which will foster trade with Asia and enable us to strengthen our access to customers,” Mr Roger said.
“Our new Chinese partner Shandong Delisi Food Co (Delisi) is expected to provide new opportunities for our product and having a faster path to markets is a crucial part of our overall strategic plan.
"We have one-and-a- half tonne of chilled primal cuts going into our Hong Kong market.
"We got involved because we want this service to work and get our product into these markets much quicker and fresher.
"The road distance to Wellcamp from Inverell, NSW, is half that of going into Sydney, and this product will be in Hong Kong the following day.
"This really is part of our logistical plan to service our growing Asian market."
Anthony Joseph, of Alfred E Chave, Rocklea Markets, exports fresh fruit and vegetables by both air and sea freight to 20 markets across the globe.
"Today we have 10 tonne of R2E2 mangoes grown in the Bowen district on the flight," Mr Joseph said.
"We normally export 1500 tonnes of mangoes, melons, and stone fruits annually.
"The produce is usually transported by road to Sydney to access air cargo freight, so we see this flight as wonderful foresight and initiative without measure."
"In 10 years time, people will look back on this inaugural flight and say 'as if they wouldn't build an airport in Toowoomba’."
And while more than 1000 invited guest filled the Wellcamp terminal, about 5000 visitors crammed into the public car park to witness the landing of the massive 747 - 800 series freighter land and reload.
Most of these visitors who travelled from as far as Thargomindah, Cunnamulla, Charleville and Quilpie, now believe there is an opportunity that Wellcamp can service Asia with Queensland produce.