Avalon Quarantine Facility Should Be Up-Up And Away
The ongoing failure and apprehension around Victoria’s shambolic Hotel Quarantine system has renewed calls for a dedicated quarantine facility to be built at the Avalon Airport near Geelong.
Member for Polwarth, Richard Riordan, and Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, originally called for the Avalon option in February.
At the time, the state was thrown into an unnecessary and financially diabolical lockdown due to a handful of cases in metropolitan Melbourne.
The Federal Government’s decision not to back the Victorian Government’s plan for a purpose-built facility at Mickleham has re-invigorated the Avalon option.
“Clearly, the Andrews Government’s Hotel Quarantine capabilities and standards are rotten from the top.
“Victorians – and Australians broadly – cannot proceed with any confidence in a system that does not warrant it.
“Confidence and integrity are key to our health and capacity to get out of this Coronavirus standoff – Avalon provides the option to achieve that,” Mr Riordan said.
The Avalon proposal enables a facility that is located at an airport, away from CBD complications, is 20 minutes from a major hospital and is separated from housing.
It also benefits from requiring no transport between airport and accommodation, can be quickly actioned and has the support of all key stakeholders in Geelong including Deakin University, the Geelong City Council, G-21, and the Avalon Airport itself.
The site could house at least 300 stand-alone cabins.
Mrs McArthur said the Avalon proposal enables a rapid capacity to respond to the shortage in skilled and unskilled labour currently crippling agriculture and tourism.
“The brakes are on the economy. We are at a stalemate and unless we actively pursue immediate options for change – the gaps in our state will remain blocked and reckless damage to business and the economy will roll on for years,” Mrs McArthur said.
“Something in the system has to give – and Avalon prises open the gaps that will give regional tourism and industry the support it so desperately needs.
“This even addresses the worker shortages in the Melbourne CBD.
“It can also play a key role in bringing Australians back home,” Mrs McArthur said.
The Federal Budget outlined a resumption in international travel towards mid next year, 2022.
“What that means is that we urgently need to generate the capacity to bring more skilled workers into the nation now. A 12 month linger will impede the viability of agricultural, tourism and commercial enterprises across Victoria.”
“Avalon is a serious part of that immediate and long-term solution,” Mr Riordan said.
The Morrison Government’s decision not to support the Mickleham proposal was unsurprising.
“The Andrews option was financially daft and missed the mark in a practical sense,” Mr Riordan said.
“Offering $15 million for planning and handballing a potential $800 million construction bill to the Commonwealth was hardly an attractive or serious solution.”
Mrs McArthur said the Mickleham proposal had layers of complications.
“We don’t need a human quarantine station next door to an animal quarantine station. Wuhan anyone? We’ve already seen the combination of bats and bodies - let’s not pursue even a mild version of that here,” she said.
“Most importantly, it was a slow and cumbersome option without broad support in a location that was obviously problematic,” she said.
The Mickleham animal quarantine facility is the single site in Australia for all pets coming into Australia including birds, cats and dogs.
“Avalon is possible, is do-able, is supported by the local stakeholders – unlike the Mickleham community – and it can be the fundamental spark for positive change in Australia,” Mr Riordan said.
14 May 2021