Community organisations based at Kingaroy Airport are concerned that the proposed accommodation camp would come at a significant social and economic cost, threatening decades of volunteer effort, community investment and locally generated economic activity.
Local club member Grant Arrell lives nearby the Kingaroy airport precinct and said the proposal fundamentally changes the character of one of the South Burnett's most valued community precincts.
The Kingaroy airport precinct is home to a number of long-established organisations, including the Men's Shed, Kingaroy and District Vintage Machinery Club, South Burnett Junior Motorcycle Club, Kingaroy Observatory and several aviation groups.
Mr Arrell said these organisations collectively provide opportunities for education, mentoring, skills development, volunteering and recreation, while creating relaxed shoulder to shoulder environments where community members can easily open up about their wellbeing.
"Older members also pass down lifelong skills, craftsmanship and trade knowledge to younger generations. These provide important social networks that contribute to community wellbeing, tourism and positive mental health outcomes across the South Burnett.
"What concerns many people is that community assets built over generations are being disregarded or treated as bargaining chips in a deal that was negotiated without public knowledge.
"The South Burnett Junior Motorcycle Club, the Vintage Machinery Club, the Men's Shed, the Kingaroy Observatory and other groups have invested decades of volunteer effort into building something valuable for this community. They are part of the social fabric of Kingaroy. Once they're displaced, or their ability to operate is compromised, you can't simply recreate that history somewhere else," he said.
Mr Arrell said many of the facilities within the airport precinct have been developed and maintained almost entirely through volunteer labour, fundraising and community support rather than public funding.
"These organisations represent thousands of volunteer hours and significant financial contributions made over many decades while also delivering important economic benefits to the wider community.
"Club events, open days, machinery rallies, educational programs, aviation activities, Lifeflight fundraising activities and tourism experiences attract visitors to the region, generating business for local accommodation providers, cafés, retailers and service businesses. They also provide opportunities for younger generations to learn practical skills, preserve local history and connect with experienced volunteers, ensuring valuable knowledge is passed on within the community," he said.
Mr Arrell said community members are also concerned about the future of the Kingaroy Observatory, one of the region's unique scientific, educational and tourism attractions.
"Increased lighting, vehicle movements and night-time activity associated with a large accommodation camp have the potential to significantly affect observing conditions, placing the Observatory's ongoing operation at risk and threatening an attraction that has educated and inspired residents and visitors for decades.
"Rather than complementing the established mix of aviation, recreation, education, agriculture and community activities, residents fear a workforce camp accommodating hundreds of workers would introduce increased traffic, noise and around-the-clock activity into a precinct that has evolved over decades as a community asset," he said.
Mr Arrell said any assessment of the proposal must recognise the full social, economic and community value of the organisations already operating within the airport precinct.
"This isn't simply about relocating a few clubs. Impacting permanent community organisations with a workforce accommodation camp would leave Kingaroy with fewer opportunities for volunteering, fewer places for people to connect, fewer reasons for visitors to stop in our region and a permanent loss of community history and social capital.
"We are calling on Council to fully consider the long-term impacts on the organisations, volunteers, local businesses and residents who have invested decades in building one of the South Burnett's most valued community precincts before any final decisions are made," he said.
