Wellcamp quarantine hub reaches next stage
THE buildings that will house hundreds of returned citizens at the Wellcamp quarantine hub will be built right here in Toowoomba, employing hundreds of people and injecting millions into the economy.
Contactor Hutchinson Builders has lifted the lid on how it plans to produce more than 250 structures in a matter of weeks.
It comes a week after project manager Wagners revealed it had completed detailed designs for the 1000bed facility in conjunction with Queensland Health.
Hutchinson Builders team leader Sean Lees said more than 250 people would be needed to construct the accommodation, including a large contingent of trainees and apprentices.
“It’s a large-scale project, in excess of 250 individual buildings getting produced,” he said.
“It will be almost exclusively done by local workers, we’re going to run significant training out at the yards.
“We’ve got a bunch of different initiatives, including trainees and apprentices.”
Mr Lees said to achieve the massive feat, teams would work on buildings simultaneously over several weeks.
“The buildings themselves will take eight days each off the line, with 32 being constructed simultaneously,” he said.
“At its peak, it’s going to be 250 people involved in the project.
“There are a range of different product types and they are climate-controlled, very energy-efficient and they’re robust products.”
The revelation comes just a week after John Wagner revealed detailed designs on the demountable buildings had been completed, with major earthworks already begun.
Mr Lees acknowledged opposition to the project by residents, but said the economic benefits would flow across the region.
“I can understand people have their own personal views of Covid,” he said.
“But from our standpoint you have a great local business bringing opportunities and we’re thrilled to be part of it.
“It’s going to bring tens of millions to the region and that’s going to be a real boost for our economy.”