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The owners of Wellcamp Airport have pitched the idea of a new purpose-built 1,000 room quarantine facility based at the airport for incoming overseas arrivals.
According to a report by the ABC, the plan would see Wellcamp Airport, west of Toowoomba and 150 kilometres outside of Brisbane, as a new entry-point into the country for Australians arriving home.
Airport chairman John Wagner told the public broadcaster that the facility could be built within “the next four to five weeks”, on vacant land next to the airport’s terminal.
Once complete, Wagner said arriving passengers would be transferred to the facility by bus, to then undergo their mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
“We can get them off the plane and be in their accommodation facility in less than five minutes,” he said, “There would be no interaction with our staff, there would be no interaction with the general public and there would be no interaction with our terminal.
“We believe that it’s a much smarter and safer and cost-efficient operation than what they’ve currently got going.”
Wagner also said the proposal includes another 300 designated rooms for staff to live on-site, as well as COVID-19 testing facilities, kitchens, CCTV and fencing around the facility.
“It would be a very tightly controlled environment, and that way we can keep this virus under control,” he said. “People can come into this country and not have any interaction with the public whatsoever, and go straight to their facility and stay in a nice room with fresh air.”
Currently, returned overseas arrivals complete their mandatory quarantine in hotels in Brisbane city, however the Queensland government has been in search of other locations outside of the busy capital, in light of the stronger UK variant of the virus.
Wagner said a team of government and Queensland Health officials had already visited the proposed site, and the Queensland government is currently preparing a formal submission to the Prime Minister.
Vannus
says:Good idea for the Wagner brothers’ to make money!
Wonder if the Fed Govt will take it on-board?
Will both Fed & State Govts’ put taxpayer funds towards its’ construction?
MD
says:Excellent idea from WELLCAMP AIRPORT. Keeping the returning people in isolation within the Airport confines is a definite no brainer.
Well done
Jim
says:And when does Immigration & Customs’ formalities’ get completed?
Or do these possibly infected people not go through them?
Colin Campbell
says:A very good idea is rubbished by the first comment! Give us a break and come up with a better idea!
Bailey
says:…………And your contribution is to ‘have a go’ at another commenter who posed pertinent questions.
Well done……NOT!
nirak
says:Have you asked the residents of Toowoomba? And what about Customs we need to think of their staff also, it’s not like we are 3 mins up the road! They need housing ect also.
Timothy
says:It’s got nothing to do with TWB residents’, as it’s being built on private property.
As for Immig., & Customs, that’ll get sorted in due time.
Paul
says:Build something similar next to Avalon and Melbourne arrivals are sorted.
Better still, make them government owned five star resorts that can be leased out to accommodation operators with the proviso that they be resumed for quarantine duties when the need arises. That way, the local economy wins with the jobs provided permanently.
TD
says:The idea is a no brainer especially if you own the land. The concept is easily adaptable to a major airport hub but in this case it’s an easy goer and benefits the locals and Queensland.
With proper planning and implementation of logistics it could be up and running very quickly with many benefits down track for commercial applications towards export air cargo as well. Once the Aussies overseas are home or with a coordinated parallel approach many overseas students could come back as well to continue studies and kick start tertiary education which is a big Australian industry in itself. As far as customs goes they work for the people and have those capabilities to fit in when required. It’s not that hard. It happens now.
Let’s get it going Wellcamp. “Build it and they will come”.
northside pet resort
says:A very interesting idea! As for me, this should have been done much earlier. It seems to me that this is correct when people go through some kind of isolation upon arrival. But I know that whoever strikes against this and categorically against such actions. My opinion is that then let them not fly since they cannot then secure the citizens of their country. It’s very strange that sometimes people don’t think so about anyone and they don’t care at all. Interesting news, thanks!