17 motorhomes for isolation of Covid cases at Lismore Showground

It’s unclear how long the motorhomes will be needed, but the measure is not expected to impact community events being held there.

Motorhomes will be established at the Lismore Showground to help Covid-positive patients who may need accommodation while they recover.

Wayne Jones, Chief Executive Northern NSW Local Health District, said 17 motorhomes will be established at the Lismore Showground from next week.

“The community support accommodation will assist close contacts of people with Covid-19 to isolate safely and effectively, if they cannot do so at their current premises,” he said.

“Each motorhome has heating and cooling and includes living and bedroom accommodation, kitchen, toilet, a shower, radio and television.

“The campervans are well insulated to cater for the variable weather.”

The announcement comes days after a backpackers hostel in Byron Bay left 81 guests stuck inside the venue from Wednesday.

A Northern NSW Health spokeswoman explained the motorhomes will offer additional capacity for isolation to everyone who needs it, not solely to the Byron Bay backpackers.

The Lismore Showgrounds are owned by NSW Crown Land and managed by the North Coast National Arts and Industry Society.

The original agreement for the motorhomes to stay in the area is for one month.

Since the area where the motorhomes will be held will be totally separated from the rest of the showgrounds, community events will still be able to go ahead.

The showgrounds host a number of community events.

Lismore mayor Vanessa Ekins welcomed the announcement.

“The showgrounds are an excellent location for this, because it has access to showers, toilets, kitchen, and it’s closed to services, if they need them,” she said.

“We’ve been talking to the showground to set up an area for homeless people to stay there as well, and it’s a great location to have motorhomes and vans.

“I totally support it.”

Lismore mayor Vanessa Ekins.

Mayor Ekins said people are only allowed to stay for up to two weeks according to the current development application for the showgrounds, which made it hard to find temporary housing solutions at that particular site.

Workers were already at the site on Friday ensuring access to electricity and other services were ready to welcome the motorhomes next week.