Mayor’s plea over amenity

MAYOR Paul Antonio says the State Government has a responsibility to alleviate the concerns held by many residents over the upcoming quarantine facility.

Mr Antonio confirmed he learned the Wellcamp project would go ahead only a couple of minutes before Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the announcement late last week.

Having held a meeting with key bureaucrats from Queensland Health and the Department of State Development on Thursday, the mayor said the State Government had an obligation to run a thorough consultative process with residents.

“The important thing is the decision has been made by a higher level of government, and there is no right of reply,” he said.

“This will happen so they now have a big responsibility to ensure this community is safe, but they also must communicate with the public about this facility.”

Mr Antonio urged residents to get vaccinated ahead of the facility opening, calling it the nation’s “pathway to freedom”.