Wellcamp quarantine hub opening date remains a mystery

The state government is remaining tight-lipped about when its 500-bed Wellcamp regional quarantine facility will officially open, with international students set to arrive next month.

THE state government is remaining tight-lipped around when its Wellcamp regional quarantine facility will officially open after construction was completed in December.

Police and Queensland Health are currently preparing for when guests arrive with 500 beds to become available this month.

But when exactly is unknown despite universities expected to open in February and the Toowoomba centre having been heavily-spruiked as being able to house unvaccinated international students.

Neither Health Minister Yvette D’Ath or the State Development Department provided a date when asked this week.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles (left) and John Wagner inspecting the quarantine hub at Wellcamp Airport last month. Picture: Nev Madsen

Ms D’Ath instead said the opening was on track.

“And I have no doubt the Deputy Premier will give an update on that shortly,” she said.

Taxpayers are being kept in the dark around how much the facility, which was announced in August last year, is costing with the government having insisted it was commercial in confidence.

The government has previously said the facility would open in early 2022.

A government spokesman said “activation activities” were in progress by police and Queensland Health.

Deputy Opposition Leader David Janetzki urged the government to reveal the opening date.

“Given the tens of millions of dollars that have been poured into this, there has been a complete failure of transparency and publicly available information,” he said.

Queensland is expected to hit 90 per cent fully vaccinated late next week which is when vaccinated international arrivals will no longer need to quarantine.