Centres for National Resilience

The Australian Government is working cooperatively with all states and territories to implement measures to control the spread of COVID‑19 and to maintain a robust quarantine system that keeps all Australians safe.

The Australian Government is partnering with state governments to deliver Centres for National Resilience in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth – purpose-built quarantine facilities that will support overseas travel and ensure the safety of the Australian community. The Commonwealth has entered into Memoranda of Understanding with Victoria on 4 June 2021, Queensland on 16 August 2021, and Western Australia on 16 August 2021 for delivery of these Centres.

The completion of the first beds at the Centre for National Resilience Melbourne is expected by the end of 2021.

The first beds in Perth and in Brisbane are expected to be complete by the end of the first quarter 2022.

The Commonwealth will fund the construction of the Centres and state governments will be responsible for the operation and management of the facilities following construction completion and for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following delivery of 1,000 beds in Melbourne, and 500 beds in each of Brisbane and Perth, the Commonwealth Government will review the capacity requirements to determine if additional capacity is required. The Centres will be able to expand quickly to meet future needs, with design and broad infrastructure requirements already determined to enable a fast ramp-up of any additional future capacity.

The Government has publicly released the Key Assessment Criteria that it used to assess proposals for purpose-built quarantine facilities provided by state and territory governments seeking Commonwealth support.

Key criteria for selection of preferred locations included:

  • proximity of a site to an international airport taking regularly scheduled international commercial passenger flights and
  • whether a site is sufficiently close (within approximately one hour vehicle transport) to a tertiary hospital, otherwise known as a principal referral hospital.

These criteria help to ensure that appropriate health care and the associated workforce is in close proximity to the Centres.

Careful consideration has been given to the fit-for-purpose and long-term design for the Centres, to manage health risks and support the community, including:

  • facility and site layout
  • customised ventilation design to prevent the risk of air flow between independently occupied rooms
  • covered verandas with purpose-built screens to prevent physical contact between neighbouring residents and separated stairs with landings for food delivery
  • furniture, fittings, materials and finishes selected based on maximising ease of cleaning and disinfecting
  • purpose-built staff facilities with the ability to keep different staff cohorts separate
  • facilities for on-site health support services (predominantly telehealth, with additional customised facilities for safe in-person primary care if necessary)
  • on-site food, laundry and waste management facilities

The Centres will provide long-term capacity and, in the future, may also be used for evacuations during natural disasters such as cyclones, bushfires and floods or potentially as accommodation for Australia's humanitarian efforts. The future use of the facilities will be determined by the Australian Government as the owner of each Centre.

The facility at Howard Springs in the Northern Territory has the safest and most functional design for quarantine in Australia. It has not had any cases spread into the community, which is why we are using it as a model, and are building on lessons learnt during its operation to ensure the Centres for National Resilience are state of the art facilities.

In developing the design and planning the operation of the Centres, we have applied key lessons from Howard Springs, including:

  • proximity to an international airport
  • a focus on residents’ mental health and wellbeing to increase compliance with infection prevention and control measures (e.g. access to balconies, catering to individual’s needs where possible, grouping families)
  • ensuring residents are correctly supported from the outset (e.g. dietary requirements, mental health support, medication etc.)
  • family and child-focused accommodation is necessary to support families and children (e.g. baths for children, child-friendly spaces)

These lessons have shaped each Centre’s design, will inform operating procedures, and will support a safe and secure Centre for any possible future use.

Each Centre is being designed to enable effective infection control through both the site layout and amenities.

The design is fully informed by experts in public health and infection control and is based on the quarantine facility currently operating at Howard Springs, which is widely acknowledged as the safest and most functional design for quarantine in Australia.

Each design includes dedicated on-site amenities for staff and residents, which will support strong infection prevention and control measures by reducing the need for external services and staff to access the Centres.

The designs include:

  • ventilation systems to ensure that rooms are each provided with a separate constant flow of fresh air
  • cabin-style accommodation with entry and exit points from outdoor decks, so the virus won’t spread through shared corridors
  • separate and secure blocks which will accommodate up to 250 residents (approximately 60 cabins)
  • on-site services, including catering, laundry and administration, to support operations and limit the movement of goods and materials off site

As quarantine requirements continue to evolve following high vaccination rates, and states progressively open their borders, these Centres will be continue to support any ongoing quarantine requirements throughout the pandemic.

Once there is no longer a need for dedicated quarantine accommodation for the COVID-19 response, the Centres will be able to be used for other purposes. The designs open up possibilities for use in future public health emergencies, humanitarian efforts, or as crisis accommodation for bushfire-affected communities or other vulnerable Australians. The future use of the facilities will be determined by the Australian Government as the owner of each Centre.

Upon completion there will be facilities in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, as well as the existing facility in the Northern Territory. These four Centres can accommodate people on different sides of the Australian continent and enable subsequent safe onward travel to other destinations.

In the short-term, the quarantine facilities are suitable for higher risk arrivals. The Commonwealth continues to discuss with the States and Territories further approaches for managing an increasing number of arrivals into Australia over time as vaccination rollouts progress further, including strategies for managing lower risk cohorts.

 

Centre for National Resilience Melbourne

 

Where will the Centre be located?

The Centre for National Resilience Melbourne is being built on the southern side of the existing Post Entry Quarantine Facility at 135 Donnybrook Road, Mickleham.

Map image is the intellectual property of Esri and is used herein under license. Copyright © 2020 Esri and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Where can I find out more about the Centre for National Resilience Melbourne?

You can read more details about the Centre for National Resilience Melbourne on the Victorian Government website located here.

My company wants to be involved in the design/construction/project management of the Centre. How can we be involved?

Global construction company Multiplex was appointed by the Department of Finance to deliver the project in Melbourne. Multiplex is engaging several construction companies to provide modular buildings for the facility.

Multiplex is utilising the Industry Capability Network for procurements to ensure that local suppliers and service providers are involved in the delivery of these critical facilities

Multiplex will also engage trade services to deliver the project. This will include, but is not limited to, a range of trade services such as civil earth works, services trenching, electrical, mechanical, carpentry, landscaping and fencing amongst others.

Email cfnrmelb@multiplex.global to find out about potential opportunities.

 

Centre for National Resilience Perth

 

Where will the Centre be located?

The Centre for National Resilience Perth will be located on Defence-owned land at Bullsbrook, approximately 4.5 kilometres west of the township of Bullsbrook.

Map image is the intellectual property of Esri and is used herein under license. Copyright © 2020 Esri and its licensors. All rights reserved.

My company wants to be involved in the design/construction/project management of the Centre. How can we be involved?

Global construction company Multiplex was appointed by the Department of Finance to deliver the project in Perth. Multiplex is engaging several construction companies to provide modular buildings for the facility.

Multiplex is utilising the Industry Capability Network for procurements to ensure that local suppliers and service providers are involved in the delivery of these critical facilities.

Multiplex will also engage trade services to deliver the project. This will include, but is not limited to, a range of trade services such as civil earth works, services trenching, electrical, mechanical, carpentry, landscaping and fencing amongst others.

Email cfnrperth@multiplex.global to find out about potential opportunities.

You can watch a recording and read the transcript of the community information session on the Centre for National Resilience Perth that was held 30 November 2021.

 

Centre for National Resilience Brisbane

 

Where will the Centre be located?

The Centre for National Resilience Brisbane will be located at the Damascus Barracks in Pinkenba.

Map image is the intellectual property of Esri and is used herein under license. Copyright © 2020 Esri and its licensors. All rights reserved.

My company wants to be involved in the design/construction/project management of the Centre. How can we be involved?

Global construction company Multiplex was appointed by the Department of Finance to deliver the project in Queensland. Multiplex is engaging several construction companies to provide modular buildings for the facility.

Multiplex is utilising the Industry Capability Network for procurements to ensure that local suppliers and service providers are involved in the delivery of these critical facilities.

Multiplex will also engage trade services to deliver the project. This will include, but is not limited to, a range of trade services such as civil earth works, services trenching, electrical, mechanical, carpentry, landscaping and fencing amongst others.

You can watch a recording and read a transcript of the community information presentation on the Centre for National Resilience Brisbane.

Email cfnrbrisbane@multiplex.global to find out about potential opportunities.

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Except for any identified third party material, © Commonwealth of Australia 2021


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