John Wagner backs Toowoomba quarantine facility plan in response to Harvey Black’s second full-page open letter in The Chronicle

The war of words between John Wagner and Harvey Black, with the former responding to Mr Black’s latest full page ad in The Chronicle. Read the full responses here.

John Wagner.

Businessman John Wagner says the local jobs created by his company’s proposed quarantine facility at Wellcamp would be a major boost for the region, as the war of words between himself and fellow business identity Harvey Black continued.

Mr Wagner has again responded to comments made by Mr Black, who took out another full-page advertisement in The Chronicle to voice his disapproval of the plan for a 1300-person camp proposed for land near Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport.

The project is being considered by the State Government.

In the latest open letter, Mr Black responded to Mr Wagner’s post on social media last week that addressed the concerns raised by Mr Black about the plan, before accusing him of “grandstanding” in the media.

Mr Black pointed out Mr Wagner had misspelled his name, along with questioning whether Wagner Corporation would be willing to put down a $4.5 million guarantee akin to the JobKeeper program in case an outbreak saw “the end of many businesses and jobs”.

“The facts remain that the people of Toowoomba remain unconvinced by those pushing for this quarantine camp to go ahead — we do not want it,” the letter said.

For his part, Mr Wagner apologised for spelling Mr Black’s name as “Hervey”, but reiterated how safe and secure the facility would be.

“These are the facts – our proposal, which was requested from the State Government, is based on the successful Howard Springs facility (near Darwin) — it is the only facility not to have a COVID-19 breach,” he said.

Toowoomba businessmen (from left) Harvey Black and John Wagner.

“Every room will have its own airconditioning system, there will be no corridors, every room will have fresh air and every one working on site will be vaccinated.

“The important thing is Wagners is not running the facility — it will be the responsibility of the State or Federal Governments.

“Everyone who works on the site will live on the site (for a period) and be recompensed, avoiding the need for people to have two or three jobs.

“I thoroughly respect everyone’s opinion on this matter, and I have enormous respect for Harvey Black.”

Mr Wagner said he was committed to using local contractors and suppliers during the construction and maintenance of the facility.

“We have a policy at Wagner Corp, that if we can buy local, we will buy local,” he said.

“It will be major boost to our local producers and other local businesses that typically supply to the construction sector, like electricians, landscapers, painters, CCTV camera providers.

“It will create 450 new jobs in Toowoomba that we don’t currently have.”

MR BLACK’S SECOND OPEN LETTER

In response to John Wagner’s post on Facebook, to my letter to the Queensland Premier in the Toowoomba Chronicle 12th February, 2021, where he assures that the COVID-19 virus would be contained in the proposed quarantine facility close to the Wellcamp Airport, I would like to challenge John Wagner to put up a surety equivalent to the JobKeeper paid to local businesses.

This would be used to assist in the fallout in the event of an outbreak, as a lockdown would see the end of many businesses and jobs in this community.

In September 2020, that was the equivalent of $4.5 million (per month) in the Toowoomba region.

My letter, as a private citizen, was to the Premier of Queensland, not to John Wagner or his family, and not from Black Truck and AG.

The facts remain that the people of Toowoomba remain unconvinced by those pushing for this quarantine camp to go ahead. We do not want it!

I am not sure why John Wagner is responding on behalf of the Premier. I await a response from the Premier, as does every resident in our region.

Also John, I am sure you are aware, my name is Harvey Black, not Hervey Black.

Harvey Black

MR WAGNER’S FULL STATEMENT

I apologise to Harvey for misspelling his name, because spelling was never one of my strong points.

With my Facebook post, and I very rarely put a post, it was to address the facts.

These are the facts – our proposal, which was requested from the State Government, is based on the successful Howard Springs facility.

It is the only facility not to have a COVID-19 breach.

Every room will have its own airconditioning system, there will be no corridors, every room will have fresh air and every one working on site will be vaccinated.

The important thing is Wagners is not running the facility – it will be the responsibility of the State or Federal Governments.

Wagner Corporation’s role is to construct and maintain the facility and to provide the food and beverages.

The cleaning, which is overseen by Queensland Health, will be done with a COVID-safe facility.

Everyone who works on the site will live on the site and be recompensed, avoiding the need for people to have two or three jobs.

The community outbreak in Melbourne was the result of a cleaner, then going to work at a cafe at the airport.

Everyone must understand that it is very early days, and if in fact it goes to the next level, we will be able to consult with appropriate agencies with far more detail once it’s being worked out.

This phase is just to determine whether it’s financially viable.

The other thing that came through is the Premier came out publicly and said if someone gets sick, they’ll be transported by ambulance to Brisbane.

When the facility is no longer needed, it will be dismantled and shifted to other locations.

Wagner Corp is not seeking any government financial assistance – the costs will be recovered by the people staying at the facility, which is the same as current hotel quarantine.

The State Government understands that they’ve got a major issue with hotel quarantine.

They asked us, because Wellcamp is an international airport, whether we could put in a proposal.

The other thing that’s really important to put in is the passengers will disembark from the airport, will not use Wellcamp’s terminal, and will have no interaction with the public or the airport staff. They will go on buses.

Harvey needs ask whoever is running the facility for that same surety, and I wish him the best of luck.

We have a policy at Wagner Corp, that if we can buy local, we will buy local.

It will be major boost to our local producers and other local businesses that typically supply to the construction sector, like electricians, landscapers, painters, CCTV camera providers.

It will create 450 new jobs in Toowoomba that we don’t currently have.

I thoroughly respect everyone’s opinion on this matter, and I have enormous respect for Harvey Black.

At least now he knows the facts.