Property developer Clive Berghofer launches petition against proposed Toowoomba quarantine facility at Wellcamp

Clive Berghofer has continued his campaign against a proposed Toowoomba COVID-19 quarantine facility, launching a petition and asking people to sign it.

Clive Berghofer.

One of Toowoomba’s wealthiest men has continued his war against a proposed quarantine facility outside the city, petitioning the State Government to abandon the idea.

Multi-millionaire property developer Clive Berghofer launched his campaign against Wagner Corporation’s plan to build a 1300-person camp, which would quarantine returning expatriates, overseas workers and international students.

The proposal is being considered by the State and Federal Governments.

In an open letter, published in The Chronicle today with details about the petition, Mr Berghofer said the risk of an outbreak of COVID-19 in Toowoomba was too great to ignore.

“Planning to bring this deadly virus right onto our doorstep is a terrible mistake knowing that it will probably at some time infect people in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs,” he wrote.

“An outbreak of the virus in Toowoomba will stop the treatment of patients with other health problems over a huge area of Queensland and New South Wales, while our hospitals grapple with a virus outbreak.

“It is a big risk we shouldn’t take.”

Mr Berghofer continued by saying many residents were concerned about the risk a facility would pose to the economy.

“Risking this regional growth to build a quarantine facility for short-term profit doesn’t make any sense,” he said.

“I talk to a lot of people, and many in the Toowoomba community are very worried and opposed to the idea of a quarantine facility here, especially as it may be opened in the cold winter months when the coronavirus can spread more quickly.”

Toowoomba businessmen (from left) John Wagner and Clive Berghofer.

Wagner Corp chairman John Wagner declined to comment on the petition, but had previously defended the proposal by saying it was the safest way to run quarantine.

“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,” he said on Thursday.

“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.”

Toowoomba businessman Harvey Black, who has also called on the State Government to reject the proposal, was contacted for comment.