Exercise Wallaby saw 4,300 Singapore troops visit Rockhampton

Published on 17 December 2018

Another successful Exercise Wallaby has wrapped for the year with around 4,300 Singapore personnel going through the airport during the event.

Chair of the Airport Committee Councillor Neil Fisher said the annual exercise was a major boost for the local economy.

“The airport saw around 4,300 passengers arrive and depart to Singapore between September and November this year with 13 international charters touching down in Rockhampton including Singapore Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines and Air New Zealand,” Cr Fisher said.

“One of the highlights for our local plane spotting community was the Boeing 787 Dreamliner touching down which is such an impressive aircraft and great for people here to able to see up close.

“Exercise Wallaby first started in 1990 so while it’s fair to say Rockhampton Airport has had some practice facilitating the logistics over the years, I really have to commend the whole team on what is a massive operational and planning effort each year.

“It’s absolutely worth the effort though - each year this exercise not only strengthens our relationship with Singapore but has massive flow-on benefits to our economy with the troops visiting our tourism operators, shopping at our businesses and eating in our restaurants.

“Rockhampton always loves having the troops in town to make sure they have the best experience possible in Rockhampton and the airport is already looking forward to welcoming them again in 2019,” Cr Fisher said.