By Alesha Capone
Avalon Airport may be used as a quarantine facility for returned overseas travellers.
Premier Daniel Andrews today said that while no decision has been made, “some sites with very large amounts of space and an international airport located just next door” have “some real strength” as potential quarantine facilities.
Radio station 3AW reported this morning that Linfox Airports Group, which owns Avalon, has suggested the quarantine idea to state government.
Linfox Airports Group chairman David Fox said the airport could be transformed into a facility to house up to 300 people within eight weeks.
The Age is reporting that Avalon Airport boss Justin Giddings is waiting to hear back from the state government, after submitting a proposal for a quarantine facility to be rapidly constructed on the grounds of the airport.
Mr Giddings said the first rollout of 50 cabins could be constructed within a month if the plan gets the green light.
“The whole idea would be to fly people in from overseas and see them effectively walk to a quarantine area for 14 days, reducing the needs for buses,” he said.
“It would also allow for easy access to Melbourne and Geelong if people needed medical attention.”
However, Wyndham Cr Mia Shaw has expressed concern about the idea.
On her Facebook page, Cr Shaw has written: “We need to rule out Werribee Mercy Hospital taking COVID patients from the proposed Avalon facility due to the risk to our community – one of the largest and fastest growing in Victoria.
“My other concern is, what would the Avalon facility become if it didn’t need to be a quarantine facility anymore?
“Lots of questions. Let’s hope we get some detail in due course seeing this could be up and running in 30 days.”
