A new state-of-the-art trade facility at Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport is using cool technology to help supercharge airfreight for agricultural producers in the region.
The Toowoomba Wellcamp Trade Distribution Centre (TWTDC), which opened in July, is helping primary producers and exporters by increasing the shelf life of products. These include beef, dairy, fruit, vegetables, pork and packaged nuts.
The centre has a gross floor area of 4,000 square metres (sqm). It includes 1,500 sqm of refrigerated storage, freezer rooms and temperature-controlled transit areas. It also has a large transit and covered external storage areas.
Queensland-based Wagner Corporation completed the $20 million project in just 156 days.
Accelerating access to international markets
Wellcamp Airport Business Development Manager Jonny Arkins says the centre is accelerating regional producers’ access to key international markets.
‘The TWTDC is streamlining the paddock-to-freight process for graziers and growers throughout the Toowoomba and Darling Downs regions,’ Mr Arkins says.
‘Premium Queensland fresh food such as beef, pork, fruit and vegetables can now be airfreighted into markets all over the world, faster and fresher than ever before.
‘The facility is expected to increase regional employment through export growth by over 500 jobs.’
Trade hub working together with IFAM
The new facility has been working hand-in-hand with flights organised by the Australian Government’s International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM).
IFAM is a temporary, targeted, emergency support measure put in place by the Australian Government to keep global air links open in response to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two IFAM flights per week are currently flying out of Wellcamp. These flights are delivering local produce to Hong Kong, Singapore, China and as far as Dubai, Canada, the US and Europe.
Head of IFAM, Air Vice-Marshal Margaret Staib, says Wellcamp’s new facility had the ability to load or unload cargo on a flight in just an hour.
‘IFAM was introduced to keep critical air links open and to give Australian businesses reliant on airfreight time to adapt to a changed international trade environment,’ she says.
‘This new facility at Wellcamp is an excellent example of industry adapting its operating models and pivoting to ‘new-look’ supply chains.’
