Quarantine hub to bring jobs: Wagner
WHAT is now a green field near Wellcamp Airport will be a 500-bed quarantine hub by Christmas, with construction work at the site ramping up and jobs on the way.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk shocked when she announced on Thursday the government had struck a deal with the owners of Wellcamp Airport John Wagner and the Wagner family to build a 1000-bed purpose-built quarantine facility.
As part of the agreement, the construction will be completed by Wagner Corporation, with the State Government to operate the facility once it is up and running.
Mr Wagner said after months of negotiations he was pleased to finally be given the green light to start building by the Queensland government.
“It’s a great thing for Toowoomba and for our region, not to mention the state and the country,” he said.
Mr Wagner said during the construction phase there would be up to 400 jobs created, while up to 150 jobs would be supported during the operation of the facility.
“There’ll be up to 3000 meals a day that will provide opportunities for our local producers, jobs for laundry people, cleaners, transport people, bus companies and drivers, should I go on?”
Mr Wagner said construction subcontractors were currently gearing up to begin work within the next week, and for people to “keep an eye on Seek” for job opportunities.
“We’ve got to have 500 rooms up by Christmas, so we’ll be cracking on,” he said.
With the final design of the facility nearing completion, Mr Wagner said topsoil was currently being stripped from the site, and once the electrical, plumbing and stormwater designs had been complete they would start “serious construction”.
Ms Palaszczuk said the State Government would have a 12-month lease on the facility, with an option to extend the lease for another two years.
Mr Wagner confirmed that once the lease ended with the government, the facility could be dismantled, however there were other options available.
“We are developing the Wellcamp Entertainment Precinct and as a part of that it will have 5000 campground places, so we will produce these 1000 rooms as part of that process,” Mr Wagner said.
“It will be used to house repatriated travellers whether they be Australians or otherwise or could be used to house farm workers and or university students, but that is up to the state and or federal government - it’s not up to us. We are the landlord here.
“There are producers out there who can’t pick their crops and they need to get people back in and we need to get the South Sea Islander program working and working quickly.
“It could be used like that (but) there is not an intention for that at this time.
“We are just the landlord to the government, we’re not operating the facility.
“They asked us to build a purpose-built facility, and we’ll be charging monthly rent.
“The Qld Government is just like Qantas or anyone else at Wellcamp.”
Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Rohl said the development presented a unique responsibility. “I recognise there are members of the public and business community who have concerns about this decision, however it is in the state and national interest for governments, business and community leaders to take a genuine stand to support and lead on this issue,” he said.
“While we understand that any cases will be transferred direct to Brisbane rather than creating additional pressures on the existing Toowoomba hospital, the Toowoomba chamber believes given the local community is shouldering this responsibility the state government must give Toowoomba the highest priority for vaccination roll-outs, as well as bring forward planned government infrastructure investments, particularly for Toowoomba health services.”