Palaszczuk Government explores options for use of Wellcamp quarantine facility

Barely a fraction of the Wellcamp quarantine hub’s capacity is being used for its intended purpose as the state government explores alternative uses for the facility.

As the Wellcamp quarantine hub sits largely empty, with just a fraction of its capacity currently in use, the state government has confirmed it is exploring “alternative uses” for the facility.

The Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre in Toowoomba first opened to guests in late February, and since then a total of 587 people have stayed at the 1000-bed capacity facility.

Currently just 33 people are staying at the centre, which was purpose-built to be a quarantine hub as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last August the government stirred controversy when the Premier made the announcement it was going it alone to build the facility at Wellcamp, on land leased to it by owners Wagner Corporation, for 12 months for an undisclosed sum.

While the finances of the deal have been kept secret through a “commercial in confidence” arrangement between the government and the Wagners, a figure of $200 million has been floated as a ballpark by insiders, placing the cost per guest at around $340,000.

Since then the facility’s stated purpose of housing people needing to quarantine as a result of Covid restrictions has largely been declared null and void by the government’s roll back of restrictions, including last week’s decision that unvaccinated international arrivals and close contacts would no longer need to quarantine.

Despite the changes to Covid restrictions and quarantine rules, Deputy Premier Steven Miles remained adamant the QRAC had a place in the government’s pandemic response.

“The primary use of the Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre at Wellcamp remains as an isolation facility in the support of COVID-19 pandemic response, protecting vulnerable people in our community who don’t have alternative accommodation in line with the Public Health Directives that positive cases must isolate for seven days,” he said.

“The pandemic will continue to evolve and so will our response. With the resumption of cruising, for example, the facility may be required for those who are Covid-positive who live outside South East Queensland.”

The State Governments Wellcamp quarantine facility, the Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre, welcomed the first cohort of guests on February 5, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Mr Miles confirmed alternative uses of the QRAC facility were being considered, but it was unclear what these were.

“We will continue to work with a range of agencies on potential alternative uses of the QRAC facility for any remaining months of the state government lease,” he said.

In the wake of devastating flooding earlier this year the Palaszczuk Government offered Wellcamp to house people displaced from the natural disaster.

However not a single flood victim took up the offer, and the government instead forked out $278,457 on hotel rooms for 288 displaced households so they could stay closer to home.

Mr Miles said the Government had offered places at Wellcamp to people impacted by the devastating February weather event, but that decisions were made based on the specific needs and preferences of individuals and families.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie claimed the Government “clearly have absolutely no idea what to do with Wellcamp”.

“Queenslanders deserve to know how much Wellcamp has cost us and what it’s going to be used for in the future because we are going to be paying for it for a very long time,” he said.

Originally published as Palaszczuk Government explores options for use of Wellcamp quarantine facility