Historic Nowra CBD building offered as vaccination hub

Maurice Bertapelle from the Iconic Property Holdings, part of the Iconic Group, has recently completed a multi-million dollar makeover the the historic Woodhills, Grace Bros or Spotlight building in the Nowra CBD and says the premises would make an ideal vaccination centre in the short term.

"This [COVID] is not going away," he said.

"Nowra and the Shoalhaven has an aging population and our building would be ready to go if needed to be utilised as a vaccination hub.

"The only way we are going to combat this virus is by getting people vaccinated.

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"And it makes sense to get our older and vulnerable residents vaccinated."

Hailing from Wollongong, he believes Shoalhaven residents are taking the threat of the virus more seriously.

"Wollongong is just down the road from Sydney and then Nowra is just down the road from Wollongong," he said.

"And there are numerous links, for work and especially sporting between the Shoalhaven and the Wollongong area.

"I see people down here [Nowra] taking this seriously - if anything they are a little bit scared and want to do what they can to keep it out of their community."

The multi-million dollar upgrade of the historic Nowra building includes a "state of the art air conditioning unit" with special UVA filters, according to Mr Bertapelle, which have the "ability to kill of viruses, bacteria and flus".

Special environmentally friendly paints have also been used throughout that are antibacterial, while also remaining asthma friendly.

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"It's [the building] set up for this type of use," Mr Bertapelle said.

"It wouldn't have to be a long term lease arrangement - I just see a hole in the vaccine roll out in the Shoalhaven that could be filled.

"We are also central, close to public transport, and there is also plenty of nearby community parking and parking onsite if required."

Mr Bertapelle has contacted a number of politicians to flag this suggestion and has even launched a petition to try and bring his suggestion to life.

"I just feel our town really needs a vaccination hub," he said.

"It would certainly be of a benefit to the town - and with the news of extra vaccinations, especially Pfizer being available soon, it would seem crazy not to have a location to distribute it.

"This is an important health issue throughout the world, it's not just Sydney or Wollongong or NSW, it's worldwide.

"We have all seen how easily this variant can spread and people need to take it seriously.

"I've had my first shot and will be getting my second in coming weeks - we just have to realise this is our reality now and it's not just an older generation problem."

Mr Bertapelle's petition can be found here -