Toowoomba property developer Clive Berghofer, 86, has donated more than $1 million to COVID-19 vaccine research, but there is one step too far for him — and it's the step another local millionaire made this week.
Key points:
- The Queensland government has announced that a quarantine facility will be built outside Toowoomba
- Former mayor Clive Berghofer says it's a terrible idea, but developer John Wagner begs to differ
- Some residents say it will be good for the region, but others say the plan is "absolutely ridiculous"
On Thursday developer John Wagner, famous for building a private international airport, announced that his family's plan to build a COVID quarantine facility at Wellcamp would go ahead with the backing of the Queensland Premier.
Claiming he was the voice of the city's working people, Mr Berghofer, the former mayor, said Mr Wagner's announcement represented a "shocking betrayal".
"I think this plan is detrimental to our city, and you don't do things to hurt the city," Mr Berghofer said.
"People came to me and said, ‘Your voice is stronger than mine, how about you say something.'"
"I'm 86 years old, and the older you get, the more you care about health … I don't like doing things detrimental to the city.
Mr Berghofer made headlines in 2013 when he donated a record $50.1 million to the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), now known as the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
The philanthropist said he would rather see the Wagner Corporation spend its money on other projects for the city.
"They could build the race track they've been talking about — that's a good idea," he said.
"But I don't think it's the right thing to build a quarantine centre here.
'Go-ahead policy'
But Mr Wagner said the positive reaction to his announcement had been "overwhelming".
He said the economic benefits to the town and the "significant" opportunities for local producers the project would create should alleviate fears.
"I think it's a positive thing for Toowoomba — it will enhance the safety against COVID-19," Mr Wagner said.
"We've had major corporations looking at investing at the airport and Toowoomba who have said this is the best announcement that's happened for a long time.
"I think we can show, as the Wagner family, that we can do things quickly and efficiently and to a world-class standard.
"That's why people want to invest in Toowoomba, because we've got a go-ahead policy."
ABC News: Cassie Hough
)He acknowledged that thousands of people signed a petition against the Wellcamp facility, but hoped concerns would disappear once more details were revealed.
"I can appreciate the hesitancy," he said.
"But if you look at the Howard Springs model – which is what we have modelled ours on, except a newer and better version – there has not been one single community outbreak there since its inception.
ABC News: David Chen
)Not so simple
But Mr Berghofer is not convinced.
"You can ignore what I'm saying, but when I was mayor I did things that were best for the city," he said.
He said a facility closer to Brisbane made more sense.
"In [Mr Wagner's proposal] we have to cart the people from Brisbane and back to Brisbane," Mr Berghofer said.
While the two millionaires disagree on how to handle COVID-19 in Toowoomba, both claim their actions have the city's best interests at heart.
"I've got elderly parents and if I thought there'd be any risk to them I wouldn't be doing this," Mr Wagner said.
ABC Southern Queensland: Lucy Robinson
)What does the community think?
Opinions among the city's non-millionaires are divided.
Speaking to the ABC in Queen's Park, paramedic Pete Murphy was supportive of the facility.
"At the end of the day, it's going to go somewhere," he said.
"A lot of people are thinking, 'We don't want it in our community' — but that's the idea of the quarantine facility, to keep it out of the community and keep it controlled."
ABC Southern Queensland: Lucy Robinson
)Mr Wagner promised the facility would create local jobs, which appealed to resident Mupenzi Rafiki.
"It's a good idea to choose Toowoomba," he said.
"The government, they have to take their decision to make the people safe.
ABC Southern Queensland: Lucy Robinson
)But Jane Murphy was concerned any potential COVID outbreaks would overwhelm the region's medical facilities.
"I think it's absolutely ridiculous," she said.
"We are an ageing population in Toowoomba — there are a lot of very old people and they are worried."
Margaret, another local, was also worried.
"We've been really lucky, blessed, not to have the virus going through our community," she said.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTA4LTI3L2Jlcmdob2Zlci1hbmQtd2FnbmVyLWF0LW9kZHMtb3Zlci10b293b29tYmEtY292aWQtY2FtcC8xMDA0MTIyMjLSAShodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTAwNDEyMjIy?oc=5
2021-08-27 08:34:32Z
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