It was last Friday 26 November when the Lismore App was made aware of a temporary COVID-19 isolation centre being set up at the Lismore Showground.

Wayne Jones, Chief Executive Northern NSW Local Health District said the established 17 motorhomes at the Lismore Showground were to assist close contacts of people with COVID-19 to isolate safely and effectively, if they cannot do so at their usual premises.

"NSW Health consulted with the Lismore Showground regarding use of the site and the location of the motorhomes within the site," Mr Jones said, "The Lismore Showground was chosen for its central location, with easy access to both a major hospital and COVID-19 testing facilities."

Some people are not happy about the location or the manner NSW Health went about it.

Dr Eric van Beurden, former Research Coordinator in Lismore's Public Health unit is one of the critics, saying there was no consultation within the broader Lismore community.

"The few who were informed, including the showground management, North Coast National A&I Society, were told the plan was a total secret. Farmers Market stallholders surveyed last week, after reading the first media reports, felt they had been kept totally in the dark until the fence had been erected and Covid contacts were on the way."

The Lismore Showground hosts the weekly Saturday morning Farmers Markets, the weekly Tuesday Lismore Organic Markets as well as speedway and go-kart racing.

"Showground activities attract large numbers of participants, shoppers, spectators and stallholders. To house people with any risk of transmitting Covid, in any part of the showground is epidemiological madness! We all saw in the Ruby Princess fiasco just how easily things can go pear shape in spite of all the NSW Health assurances about 24/7 security guards and such."

"The gravest concern is that the new fence literally abuts the area where Lismore Farmers Market and Lismore Organic Market are held every week. Market Coordinator Louise Grenfell says: "These two markets were deemed by Northern NSW Local Health District to be essential produce providers ever since Covid first arrived and they attract hundreds of local shoppers every Tuesday and Saturday. This is a real worry for us all."

"Stallholders, whose livelihoods depend on market sales, are expressing concern that people may be concerned for their safety and stop coming to the markets. They work long hours on the land or in other food enterprises to produce the fruit, vegetables and many other staple foods sold at the markets."

A group of locals including Dr Eric van Beurden and Beverley Crossley, a former North Coast health professional and nurse educator, believe that NSW Health should be containing Covid outbreaks where they occur, not spreading Covid risk to surrounding cities. Beverley Crossley says: "This is a potential Covid time bomb for the wider Lismore community. It will be even more dangerous when newer highly-contagious strains arrive. All outbreaks must be dealt with where they occur and not be exported to other places."

(Dr Eric van Beurden outside the Lismore Showgrounds showing the motorhomes and the market sheds last weekend. Photo: supplied)

The group urgently calls on Minister Hazzard to rescind the decision to import into the Lismore community, any Covid contacts from other areas who don't require immediate hospital care.

Lismore Speedway promoter David Lander is another furious at the developments at the showground.

Mr Lander told the Lismore App's Matt Barlow Health Orders from NSW Health means he is forced to ask patrons to park outside the showgrounds.

“As far as general parking is concerned, the main front gate will be open and race fans can come straight in and park on the left or up near the wood chopping area. I am also organising a bus to transport the elderly from those gates up to the eastern end of the ground near the pavilions if anyone requires this service," Lander explained.

He is furious such measures are being taken when the Heath Department could have used another location on the site near the Go-Kart circuit. 

“Why did the department not choose other properties in Byron Bay and surrounding locations? I must say it is not the Lismore Show Society who have done this, I believe it is some bureaucrat from the NSW Department of Health who has made this decision when there was an alternative location for the mobile homes that would not have affected the running of our speedway. "

"More so, we don't know how long this quarantine process will continue and we have our major meetings coming up over the Christmas - New Year period." 

A spokesperson from the North Coast National A&I Society told the Lismore App, "We have been asked by the department of health not to comment and refer all enquiries to them".

A number of the 17 motorhomes are in use at the moment, and these will continue to be available for any members of the community across the District.

Mr Jones said, "The motorhomes provide an additional accommodation option for isolation purposes in the instance that hotels and other health accommodation may be in short supply, particularly coming into the busy summer period."

"The motorhomes have their own power, water, and waste disposal services and occupants must follow the current Public Health Orders at all times."

"The motorhomes are situated together in one area of the park, with a defined boundary, allowing other showground activities to continue. They do not pose a health risk to the site or the local community."

"Strict hygiene, safety and infection protection control measures apply, and Northern NSW Local Health District is providing a security presence at the site 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

"Throughout the pandemic, the NSW Government has provided temporary accommodation options for people, including staff and community members, who need to self-isolate out-of-home to help protect their loved ones and reduce the risk of transmission of the virus."

"This supported accommodation has been used in several other places in NSW and has proven to be an effective measure in supporting people to isolate safely."

Love it or loathe it, agree or disagree, NSW Health is doing what they deem best for the people of the Northern Rivers as they have done throughout the global pandemic.