Luxurious golf resort once favoured by media giant Kerry Packer is chosen as a potential site for a coronavirus quarantine facility
- Ramada Resort Kooralbyn Valley's Packer Lodge has been reserved for use
- QLD government could use it as a temporary isolation and quarantine facility
- More than 1000 people have isolated themselves at home in Queensland
- Five people in Queensland have been confirmed as having the virus
- There's 15 cases in Australia, with five recovered and 10 in a stable condition
A Queensland golf resort once frequented by media giant Kerry Packer has been earmarked as a coronavirus quarantine facility
A Queensland golf resort once frequented by media giant Kerry Packer has been earmarked as a coronavirus quarantine facility.
More than 1000 people are isolated in their homes in Queensland, while five people in the state have been confirmed as having the virus.
Self-isolation is a precautionary measure to help contain the virus, required of people who have been in China recently or in direct contact with a confirmed coronavirus case.
The Gold Coast hinterland's Ramada Resort Kooralbyn Valley said on social media that its Packer Lodge had been reserved by the state government for use as a temporary isolation and quarantine facility.
'We can confirm Ramada Resort Kooralbyn Valley has been approached by the Queensland government last week about reserving the newly renovated Packer Lodge, where Kerry Packer used to stay when he was playing polo and golf,' the post read.
'Packer Lodge may be used to help out those low-risk Australians who have recently visited a country of risk but have no symptoms of coronavirus, but as a precaution still need to be isolated for 14 days before they can walk free to public areas.
'Any movement in and out of the facility will be strictly controlled.
The Gold Coast hinterland's Ramada Resort Kooralbyn Valley (pictured) said its Packer Lodge had been reserved by the state government for use as a temporary isolation and quarantine facility
The resort said Packer Lodge may be used to help out those low-risk Australians who have recently visited a country of risk but have no symptoms of coronavirus
It is understood no one is currently in isolation at the 30-room lodge, which is located about 300 metres away from the main building and where the late Mr Packer stayed when he played polo and golf at the resort
'We can also assure everyone that no one will be sent to the Packer Lodge for isolation unless we have assurances from Queensland Health and the Queensland Police that all measures to guarantee the safety of our staff our guests and our fellow Australians are in place.
'Otherwise, they would have been sent to the hospital immediately.'
A Queensland Health spokesperson says the government is looking at every measure to ensure those who need to isolate themselves can do so.
This includes preparing places for anyone who cannot isolate themselves in their own home.
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It is understood no one is currently in isolation at the 30-room lodge, which is located about 300 metres away from the main building and where the late Mr Packer stayed when he played polo and golf at the resort.
It's unknown if any other facilities in Queensland have been earmarked for similar quarantine measures.
The hotel said its decision came after it had lost business as Chinese tourists were banned from travelling to Australia due to the coronavirus.
It had also been affected by the drought and a bushfire last year.
The resort would soon be up for sale or looking for a strategic partner.
If used as an isolation facility, movement in and out of the lodge would be strictly controlled and enforceable by law, similar to the quarantine facility near Darwin.
The hotel said its decision came after it had lost business as Chinese tourists were banned from travelling to Australia due to the coronavirus
'The risk to the local residents is zero, as long as people do not trespass or break into the quarantined area without prior approval,' says the hotel.
Police or the army would provide security and Queensland Health staff would check on those in isolation every day, it said.
There are 15 confirmed cases of the virus in Australia, with five patients recovered and 10 in a stable condition.
There are 42,723 cases confirmed worldwide and the death toll has reached 1013.
More than 500 Australians have been evacuated from China amid fears about the spread of the virus.
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