Build it and they will come

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By Dwain Duxson

Build it and they will come - It's a well-used statement, but more often than not, it doesn't ring true. But that shouldn't stop us from building things because sometimes they do come and come in droves.

One that rang true was/is Wellcamp. The Wagner family started by building a sizable regional Airport just outside Toowoomba in South West Queensland. But the vision wasn't just an Airport, but a Rural/Regional/Agricultural precinct like no other. 

Who's coming, and who's come? The Airport was the first Uber off the curb, Wagners Quarries and Civil is there, Rain Agribusiness is building a bulk Grain facility, RDO, Australia's biggest Machinery and Equipment Dealer, is headquartering there, The Inland Rail is coming, Boeing is building an Aerospace centre, and the Queensland Government built their (controversial) Covid quarantine facility there. I'm sure there will be many more to come.

Toowoomba is arguably the Agricultural Services Capital of Australia, and Wellcamp only cements that title. We will look back in 10 years time and laud the Wagners for their vision and what they have created. Keep an eye on this place, it's already impressive. A great example of building something significant (the Airport) and then attaching interconnected businesses within arms reach of that something significant. More vision like this in Ag, please.  

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