Demand intensifies for Port Douglas testing site

Covid-19 petition

Howard Salkow

Senior Journalist

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A petition titled ‘Help Prevent COVID Testing Crisis for Port Douglas’ has been launched to push Queensland Health to set up a Covid testing site in Port Douglas. Image: supplied


The heat is rising as demand intensifies for a Covid testing site in Port Douglas.

And today a petition was launched by Protect Our Paradise, a group that has been active in ensuring any development does not negatively impact the town. POP started this petition to Cynthia Lui, the State Member for Cook.

Titled ‘Help Prevent COVID Testing Crisis for Port Douglas’, it calls for voting ‘Yes for Covid testing in Port Douglas and support the survival of local tourism’.

The petition says by signing it, you will help support the embattled tourism industry of the Far North, and the many thousands of interstate visitors who have chosen to visit and support our local economy.

To access the petition:

https://www.change.org/portdouglascovidtest
This is of particular significance to those who visit port and don't have transport to get to Mossman Hospital, the only location in the shire for Covid testing. This also adds further pressure as visitors are required to be tested on the fifth day of their arrival in Queensland.

Newsport has received a number of appeals from potential visitors who are now giving second thoughts to travelling to Port Douglas because there is no testing site in the town.

Julie McLean, from the Surf Coast in Victoria, has sent a letter to Cynthia Lui, the State Member for Cook, and to Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr, in the hope a site can be located in port.

She writes: “We've booked our annual week in the beautiful Port and are surprised and disappointed that we might have to travel to Mossman hospital to be tested on day five. We don't want to hire a car for this purpose and there's no public transport.

“I've lodged a complaint with Queensland Health and have received a standard bureaucratic reply which was not helpful.

“I've been told that a private company is considering setting up, but obviously it has to be viable. Why is a government directive in the hands of a private company? Is Mossman Hospital the most appropriate place for a testing site?”

Pressure on Queensland Health

Ms Mclean requests that pressure be placed on Queensland Health to allow the introduction of lateral flow tests which are working well in the UK, free and available in pharmacies.

“I am also asking urgently that there is pressure on the government to adequately fund a testing site in the town for the tourists who are looking forward to a week away in your beautiful state without this imposition. This directive has not been thought through.”

Another Newsport reader, Wendy Hatton from Sydney, writes: “I have a visit to Port Douglas planned for the New Year, however, as there is no Covid testing site in Port Douglas, we are not sure we will be coming as we won’t have a vehicle to enable us to go to Mossman Hospital. Also we are not sure if a taxi will even take you through a drive-in testing facility.

“You really need to encourage your council to get a pop up testing centre going in Port Douglas ASAP or people like ourselves will be deterred from visiting.

“I just checked the Noosa area and they have four testing sites located centrally to cater for tourists,” says Ms Hatton.

Council’s attempts

Earlier this week, Mayor Michael Kerr said Douglas Shire Council is making every attempt to secure a location for Covid testing in Port Douglas.

“We are trying our best to make this happen. It will depend on numbers and this is tough to gauge at this point.

“Testing is done by a private company and we will be keeping a close eye on whether there is a need for a testing site in Port Douglas,” said Kerr. 

Mossman Hospital

Mossman Hospital will be closed for vaccination from 21 December to January 5, but will remain open for Covid-19 testing.

Opening hours Monday to Sunday 8:30am to 4:00pm and OPEN public holidays.

 

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