Hundreds of beds at Wellcamp beds could be mothballed

The remaining 500 beds at the Palaszczuk Government’s Wellcamp quarantine facility could be mothballed before they even open, with authorities unsure if they will be needed.

The remaining 500 beds at the Palaszczuk Government’s Wellcamp quarantine facility could be mothballed before they even open, with authorities unsure whether they will be required.

Stage two works at the Toowoomba precinct, which included readying the second tranche of beds, have quietly reached practical completion.

But a spokeswoman for Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the decision to bring any further beds online would be made by the program board based on health advice.

Thirty guests were using Wellcamp last Friday while 600 people have stayed there since it opened in February.

Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre at Wellcamp Airport had 30 guests on Friday. Picture: Nev Madsen

The Courier-Mail asked if there were beds in the remaining rooms yet to be brought online, but did not receive a response.

It comes as the spokeswoman revealed authorities had met with representatives from the cruise ship industry to discuss options to use Wellcamp for international/interstate arrivals if a Covid-19 outbreak occurred on-board.

“If there is an outbreak of Covid, passengers will be accommodated at QRAC (Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre), if these passengers cannot travel home or do not have suitable accommodation,” she said.

Wellcamp, which the government is currently leasing off Wagner Corporation for 12 months, was effectively rendered useless last month when the government removed the requirement for unvaccinated international arrivals and close contacts to isolate.

A spokeswoman for Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre at Wellcamp Airport was the “insurance policy we built it for”. Picture: Nev Madsen

But the spokeswoman said the facility was proving to protect vulnerable groups in the community who were most at risk from Covid-19 while also supporting the health system.

“The facility continues to act as the insurance policy we built it for,” she said.

“And such a facility, still receiving guests, requires staff to run the facility.”

Meanwhile Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie has slammed the government for refilling the position of ‘manager of operations’ at Wellcamp.

The role, which is currently being advertised after needing to be vacated by someone whose secondment is coming to an end, boasts a salary of up to $135,000 a year.

John Wagner with Katarina Carroll, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Deputy Premier Steven Miles visit the Wellcamp quarantine hub in February. Picture: Nev Madsen.

It coordinates daily activities including ensuring guest services and safety and is in addition to Wellcamp’s director and the state’s Quarantine Commissioner.

Mr Bleijie claimed someone was being employed to run a facility “that won’t have anyone in it”.

“It was always a white elephant,” he said.

“It remains a white elephant.

“This is more wasteful spending to the tune of $200 million from a third-term government that is more interested with how things look than how things are.”

A government spokesman said the role was required to manage the complexities of the site operations across facility management, support for guests and co-ordinating health and police overlays.

The government has repeatedly refused to reveal the overall cost of Wellcamp citing commercial-in-confidence, however it has not disputed reports of $190 million.