ABC Southern Qld / By Georgie Hewson and Lucy Robinson
Posted Fri 8 Oct 2021
The Wellcamp quarantine facility is on track to have 500 beds operational by the end of December. (Supplied: Queensland Government)
The first glimpse of what the 1,000-bed quarantine facility at Wellcamp Airport outside Toowoomba will look like has been revealed.
Key points:
• An artist's impression and master plan reveal details of the quarantine facility being built at Wellcamp Airport near Toowoomba
• The images show how the facility will operate and accommodate returned travellers
• The Queensland government says it is still needed despite home quarantine trials starting next week
Two months after building works began, the Queensland government says the facility is on track to have 500 beds operational by the end of December.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles visited the site on Friday morning to witness the first concrete pour. Mr Miles said the facility was expected to be completed by the end of March next year.
At this stage, the cabins will be used by domestic travellers returning from COVID hotspots.
The plans include a dedicated area for arrivals and satellite staff, separated from the cabins by washing areas. (Supplied: Queensland Government)
The artist's impression shows how cabins — single, double and family-sized — will be built in rows.(Supplied: Queensland Government)
"So we can make sure that as much as possible, the services, the food, the other supplies [are] sourced locally, providing local economic benefits and local jobs."
Home quarantine 'won't affect need'
With home quarantine being trialled for a select number of returning Queenslanders next week, Mr Miles defended the need for the state's second quarantine facility.
"You will have heard the very strict criteria about who will qualify [for home quarantine], so there will still continue to be people from hotspots who might need to go into more secure accommodation," he said.
The master plan for the Wellcamp quarantine facility being built in Toowoomba.(Supplied: Queensland Government)
"And people coming from other parts of the world where COVID continues to be rampant, where there might be new strains, where they might not have had access to vaccination.
"We anticipate there to be a continuing need for quarantine facilities."
The state government said it was in discussions with the Commonwealth about allowing passenger flights to land at Wellcamp Airport, outside Toowoomba.
"This precinct is going gangbusters and the whole region needs accommodation for their workforce.