Photos from inside Queensland’s new ‘$ 200million’ Covid-19 quarantine hub show it is completely deserted.
The state-of-the-art, privately-owned accommodation and medical complex at Wellcamp near Toowomba has just 14 guests after Queensland dropped isolation rules for international arrivals on April 28.
The facility is currently being used for Queenslanders who test positive to Covid, but do not have a suitable place to isolate, such as the homeless or domestic violence victims.
Others who have stayed at the facility after traveling rules were dropped include flood victims and refugees.
‘Without (Queensland Regional Accommodation Center), some of the most at-risk individuals in the community would not have a safe place to stay whilst dealing with COVID-19,’ a spokeswoman for Deputy Premier Steven Miles told The Australian.
One family took photos that were supplied to Daily Mail Australia, showing the 1000-bed Queensland Regional Accommodation Center (QRAC) is a ghost town.
Photos from inside Australia’s biggest white elephant, the ‘$ 200million’ Wellcamp Covid-19 quarantine hotel, show it immaculate but completely deserted
One family took photos which were supplied to Daily Mail Australia, showing the 1000-bed quarantine project is basically a ghost town
The state-of-the-art, pirvately-owned accommodation and medical complex has just 14 guests after Queensland dropped dropped isolation rules for international arrivals on April 28
The family also shared a review of their neat and healthy airline-like meal packs
The family shared images of the empty alleys between the hundreds of unused bungalows along with a review of their neat and healthy airline-like meal packs.
One meal consisted of a herb omelette with a side of watercress and half a tomato, with a white bread roll and an unsweetened Greek yoghurt.
Another showed whole baby carrots with mash, broccoli and roasted pork, with gravy and more cress, plus tasty-looking chocolate and strawberry tartlets.
Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie claimed the Queensland government had lost the plot spending $ 200million on a quarantine facility housing so few people
One healthy quarantine meal consisted of a herb omelette with a watercress garnish and half a tomato, with a white bread roll and an unsweetened Greek yoghurt
Another showed whole baby carrots with mash, broccoli and roasted pork, with gravy and more cress, plus tasty-looking chocolate and strawberry tartlets
There was also a Mexican salad with a dozen tortilla chips, and dips, and a dozen grapes.
‘Food and services better than expected,’ the family said of their food.
The huge facility, west of Brisbane has had an average of 41 guests a week since it opened in February.
That number dropped to 23 when the state relaxed rules for foreign visitors.
The huge facility, located near Toowoomba west of Brisbane has had an average of 41 guests a week since it opened in February
The Palaszczuk government would not reveal how much was spent on the privately-owned project, but the Queensland opposition claimed it was $ 200million
The Palaszczuk government would not reveal how much was spent on the privately-owned project.
But Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie claimed the virtually deserted facility would cost $ 200million in its first year of operation.
‘The state government has completely lost the plot if they think it’s acceptable to spend over $ 200m on a facility that has seven people in it, Mr Bleijie said.
The government has since added another seven guests.
‘[It] is so bare, some of the bedrooms have never been unlocked or washed bedsheets, ‘Mr Bleijie said.
The state government is locked into a contract with the facility’s private owner Wagner Corporation, which owns the nearest airport, until next February.
Construction is understood to have cost $ 48.8milloon and $ 40million was spent on the services of a medical company, documents obtained by The Australian revealed.
Mr Miles said the facility is still being used for ‘at risk’ people, such as homeless or domestic violence victims, who test positive for Covid.
‘The primary purpose of the QRAC remains an isolation facility for COVID-positive, but otherwise well individuals without suitable alternative accommodation,’ his spokesperson said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.
‘We plan to maintain a contingency of beds in the event that we have another COVID outbreak.’
The spokesman added that the Queensland government ‘is exploring the potential for alternative uses for the facility’ but decisions are ‘subject to commercial negotiation’.
Mr Bleijie wrote to the state’s Auditor-General Brendan Worrall requesting the secret Wellcamp deal to be audited to examine the use of taxpayers’ money.
A spokeswoman for Mr Worrall said the audit office was still seeking information from government departments.
The audit office said it would consider further action once information has been assessed.
Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the state would build the facility itself after the Morrison government blocked requests for federal funding in an eight-month stalemate.
‘This will include identifying the various costs, understanding the procurement process, and reviewing leases and other agreements including the use of confidentiality provisions,’ a spokeswoman for Mr Worrall said.
‘We will consider further actions once we have obtained and assessed this information.’
Queensland’s state premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the state would build the facility itself after the Morrison government blocked requests for federal funding in an eight-month stalemate.
‘Scott Morrison failed to act, and we now have a dedicated quarantine facility for whatever may happen in the future,’ she said.
‘Following countless leaks from the nation’s hotel quarantine system, it’s clear there is an urgent need for alternative facilities in Australia,’ Mr Miles said last year in justifying the project.
‘This facility will help Queensland to continue to open up and avoid expensive lockdowns.’
Opposition leader David Crisafulli, meanwhile, has criticized the leasing arrangements with Wagner.
‘The lease expires at the start of next year, and the government has already flushed millions of dollars down the drain on a facility that Queenslanders will never own.’