Toowoomba Wellcamp Covid quarantine facility lifeline given second life as hub for exhausted QLD fireys at Toowoomba

The highly criticised Wellcamp Covid quarantine facility will be a ‘home away from home’ for about 100 Australian and international firefighters to help exhausted crews on the ground.

The highly controversial Wellcamp quarantine facility built at the height of the Covid pandemic pandemonium at Toowoomba, will be a “home away from” for about 80 Australian and international firefighters to help local fireys.

About 80 Canadian, New Zealand, Victorian, and South Australian firefighters arrived at Wellcamp Airport on Wednesday night, after Queensland firefighters relentlessly worked day and night to contain a number of fast-moving blazes on the Southern Downs that threatened homes and lives.

Wellcamp Airport surrounded by smoke haze at Toowoomba as South East Queensland burns. 02/11/23.

Queensland firefighters have been working night and day to contain fires across the state after deadly fires took hold at Tara on the Western Downs in mid-October, and the Southern Downs on October 31.
About 40 Western Downs properties were lost, and as of November 2, more than a handful of homes on the Southern Downs.

More than 40 volunteer firefighters from Victoria’s Country Fire Authority were already fighting fires west of Warwick on Thursday morning, November 2, alongside 22 incident management team members to help with ground support.

Arrival of QFRS Conair at Toowoomba, Wellcamp. Picture: Garry Wilkinson

Queensland Rural Fire Service South West Superintendent Wayne Waltisbuhl expressed his gratitude to the Victorian crews for leaving their families to assist.

“We’ve got some very tired people and the crews that have come up are really going to support our operations and give our crews a bit of time off,” he said.

Superintendent Waltisbuhl said it was only the beginning of Queensland’s bushfire season, predicting conditions will worsen as summer hits.

“(As of Thursday morning) our three main areas of concern at the moment are Dalveen, Wallangarra and Swanfels,” he said.

“We hope within the hour we can get the New England Highway open to people travelling.

“That’s our important priority today for us today to allow people to return to their homes.”

Current conditions for Dalveen residents remain at the “not safe to return” level.

Queensland 2023 Summer fires. Picture: File

The new recruits will stay at the Wellcamp Regional Accommodation Centre, and the airport general manager Kellie Banditt said its team would cater to all their needs to support them during the disaster.

Ms Banditt said the Wellcamp team was determined to assist the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service by air, as well as ensuring their crews were refreshed and fed.

“Our airport team has worked around the clock to make this happen,” she said.

“We want to show our support to those affected during this difficult time.”

Airport general manager Kellie Banditt talking to the media at Wellcamp Airport on November 2, about how they are helping QFES.

A ConAir Q400 Aviation Water Bomber will be stationed at Toowoomba for 10 days, and made a number of successful missions on Wednesday, October 1, at Dalveen.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Assistant Commissioner Jason Lawler said the support from Wellcamp was invaluable to firefighting efforts, including a large air tanker.

“This aircraft is a state asset and has been moved in line with state risk, but can still quickly and effectively respond to fires anywhere in Queensland,” he said.

“The access to the airport allows us to continue to respond quickly and effectively to fires and protect communities.”

Current weather conditions remain favourable into the next week, with the hope this will give crews the opportunity to contain the fires.

An independent audit by the Queensland Auditor-General office into the state’s decision to build the $223m, 1000 bed facility, found the government should have been more transparent with costs and the decision-making process.