The Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre at Wellcamp is set to open for its first arrivals and the Palaszczuk Government has appointed a new Commissioner in charge of Quarantine.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said the facility was ready to support Queensland’s COVID-19 response.
“The Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre at Wellcamp is ready to support Queensland’s response to the Omicron wave,” Mr Miles said.
“This variant continues to place enormous pressure on our COVID-19 health response.
“With the Centre coming online, we have added a purpose-built facility to our options for providing safe and secure accommodation, significantly reducing reliance on hotel quarantine.”
Mr Miles said the facility would be available for unvaccinated international arrivals required to quarantine as well as people who require suitable isolation accommodation.
“There are currently hundreds of people who are required to isolate but cannot isolate at home; travellers who test positive but do not have a home in Queensland, homeless and vulnerable Queenslanders, and those without a suitable home to quarantine in including those with vulnerable household members.
“This number will likely increase through the peak of this wave and there will be an ongoing need for suitable isolation accommodation.
“The facility’s first stage of accommodation modules, offering 500 beds, and operational buildings and facilities has been built and commissioned
“Our strategy for Queensland’s broader COVID-19 response will continue to be informed by disease modelling and Wellcamp will be here for us when it’s needed.”
The Centre also offers future non-quarantine uses to benefit the local region, including accommodation for visitors, construction and agricultural workers and students.
Mr Miles today announced a dedicated Quarantine Commissioner to oversee operations.
“I’m also pleased to announce the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Assistant Commissioner Joanne Greenfield has accepted the role of Commissioner, Quarantine Management Taskforce,” Mr Miles said.
“Joanne has been working on the quarantine program since the beginning of the pandemic and brings an extensive background in leading large-scale operations in complex environments both in Queensland as well as internationally in a range of disasters including in the health sector.”
The Queensland Government have taken a 12-month lease to operate the Centre, with an option for an additional 12 months.
Wagner Corporation Chairman John Wagner said the completion of Stage One was a significant achievement.
“Wellcamp will be ready for guests within six months of the project’s announcement in August 2021,” Mr Wagner said.
“This is a significant achievement given the weather delays experienced as well as the supply chain and workforce disruptions caused by COVID.
“This is a project that will continue to bring benefits to the local region. There have been more than 400 workers on site during construction and the start of operations is now bringing more jobs and supply-chain opportunities.”
Photos of Quarantine Commissioner Joanne Greenfield can be accessed here:
