NSW Health to relocate Covid vaccination hub from Qudos Bank Arena to Granville

Despite most of NSW being fully vaccinated, plans are under way to shift the Qudos Bank Arena hub further west but it will come at a cost for voluntary groups.

Despite 85 per cent of NSW being fully vaccinated, plans are under way to shift the Qudos Bank Arena to Granville, several months after the community called for the hub to be used as a vaccination centre when it was in the grip of the pandemic’s second wave.

However, the move means more than 100 community groups — including OzHarvest — will be displaced while the Cumberland Council-owned hub is used to administer vaccines and booster shots.

The Parramatta Advertiser understands NSW Health staff will occupy the Memorial Drive centre from early November for six months, meaning several events at the Granville Centre have to be scrapped.

The shift would free up the arena at Sydney Olympic Park, which was used as the city’s major vaccination hub after the Delta strain, for concerts now restrictions have eased for the double-vaccinated, while everyone will be free to attend events from December regardless of their vaccination status.

Qudos Bank Arena’s use as a vaccination hub will cease in November. Picture: Nikki Short

A Council of Australian Palestinians spokeswoman said a council officer informed the group about the change last week and said it would have to relocate from their home of 17 years for the next six months.

The new community hall at Eric Tweedale Stadium, Merrylands, or the Granville Town Hall are alternate sites but spokeswoman Kafeh Maradweh deemed the venues too small for events, which often attract over 150 guests.

The next event planned was November 17 and subsequent meetings could be scrapped because it could clash with the rugby union season in May.

Qudos Bank Arena was NSW’s major vaccine centre. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

As a nurse at a Merrylands GP, Mrs Maradweh said converting the Granville Centre to a vaccination hub was unnecessary when more than 80 per cent of the Cumberland community double vaccinated as of Tuesday.

“OK, there might be a demand (for a booster shot) but there’s no need for a hub because what’s going to happen to the other medical practices for the area?’’ she said.

“I find it really difficult to find patients.

“As a vaccination centre we’re really struggling.’’

The Granville Centre will be a vaccination hub but scores community organisations won’t have a home for several months. Picture: Angelo Velardo

She was disappointed over the lack of consultation.

“We have the young, the old and youth. It’s for families and the Granville Centre, it’s built for the purpose in the community,’’ she said.

“My concern is the centre is always busy, and sometimes on the day of our booking, we find other group meetings and it means there is a big demand in the community hall.’’

Granville state Labor MP Julia Finn said food relief organisation OzHarvest distributed 760 hampers from the Granville facility on Monday.

“I find it a little odd — 85 per cent is fully vaccinated and pretty much every GP and every chemist can do vaccinations now,’’ she said.

“Two, three months ago it would have been a great thing to have but now I think it will be great to have the community use their community centre.’’

On Tuesday, 86.5 per cent of the Cumberland local government area had received two doses of a Covid vaccine while 89.3 per cent of the Parramatta council area is fully vaccinated.

Cumberland has been one of the worst-hit communities during the Delta strain and after lobbying the government, the council opened several centres for NSW Health to run pop-up clinics but they closed after more than a month.

NSW Health and Cumberland Council have been contacted for comment.

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