Good Shepherd Lutheran College, community must be consulted over coronavirus quarantine camp: MLA Gerry Wood

A NEARBY school and the local community must be consulted first over the use of the former Inpex village as a quarantine centre for Australian evacuees from coronavirus-affected areas, according to Gerry Wood

The Big4 Howard Springs Holiday Park is located down the road from the former Inpex workers’ camp at Whitewood Rd. Picture: Supplied

A NEARBY school and the local community must be consulted first over the use of the former Inpex village as a quarantine centre for Australian evacuees from coronavirus-affected areas, according to the local member.

Member for Nelson Gerry Wood said the nearby Good Shepherd Lutheran College needed to be consulted and, at the minimum, the public needed to be informed what risks may come with turning the now-derelict Manigurr-Ma camp into a quarantine camp.

“People will naturally have concerns about possible health risks associated with housing people who may have coronavirus at the village and those risks, if there are risks, need to be clearly explained,” he said.

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“Issues regarding security in and out of the facility are also another issue that also needs to be addressed.”

The camp backs onto the Good Shepherd Lutheran College, while the Big4 Howard Springs Holiday Park is located further down the road at Whitewood Rd.

The camp, last used in 2018 has a medical centre on site and has 3500 bedrooms with ensuites included in its 875 accomodation units.

Currently, 276 Australian evacueess are being housed on Christmas Island.

Mr Wood said keeping Territory locals healthy and calm was a priority.

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“Unless (there is) meaningful consultation with the college and community by both the NT and Federal Governments, regardless of the financial benefits to the NT Government, the move to use the village as a quarantine will not be supported,” he said.