<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It cost </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia" rel="" target="" title="Australian"><span>Australian</span></a><span> taxpayers $400 million to build at the height of the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/coronavirus" rel="" target="" title="COVID-19 pandemic"><span>COVID-19 pandemic</span></a><span>, can house up to 500 people at a time and has scarcely been used in the four years since it was completed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Considered one of the greatest white elephant projects in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/western-australia" rel="" target="" title="Western Australian"><span>Western Australian</span></a><span> history, the Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience on the outskirts of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/perth" rel="" target="" title="Perth"><span>Perth</span></a><span> will finally be used for its intended purpose: quarantining returning Australians who may have been exposed to a deadly virus.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Six passengers who were on board a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/hantavirus" rel="" target="" title="hantavirus"><span>hantavirus</span></a><span>-stricken cruise ship in the Pacific are </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/hantavirus-cruise-ship-update-australians-change-plans-repatriation/11d15794-761e-4480-a3ce-f87ff8ed8e33" rel="" target="" title="currently making the long journey back to Australia"><span>currently making the long journey back to Australia</span></a><span> under strict health protocols.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/hantavirus-cruise-ship-update-australians-change-plans-repatriation/11d15794-761e-4480-a3ce-f87ff8ed8e33" rel="" target="" title="Aussies evacuated from hantavirus ship touch down in the Netherlands"><strong><span>Aussies evacuated from hantavirus ship touch down in the Netherlands</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Seven cases of hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius have been confirmed, with two others suspected.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Three people have died.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Four Australian citizens, one permanent resident and one New Zealander who were among the last to make it off the cruise liner landed in the Netherlands in the early hours of this morning.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/bullsbrook-perth-quarantine-centre-where-hantavirus-cruise-ship-passengers-will-stay/0d39607f-c907-46d9-a9df-9bdf194e67cd" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They are expected to board a flight bound for the RAAF Base Pearce near Perth in the next 48 hours.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>From there, they will be taken directly to the Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience, where they will remain in quarantine for at least three weeks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Here's a look inside the shuttered facility, and just what the stranded cruisers can expect during their stay.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>A COVD-era quarantine project</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Bullsbrook centre was commissioned by the federal government in mid-2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was one of three such facilities designed to accommodate returning Australians, with a similar 500-bed centre built in Pinkenba, Brisbane, and a larger 1000-bed centre in Mickleham, Melbourne.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/hantavirus-ship-american-diagnosed-on-place/b955cf30-eab7-4a0b-8ed6-f5ab298c78a5" rel="" target="" title="Evacuated American cruise ship passenger tests positive to hantavirus"><strong><span>Evacuated American cruise ship passenger tests positive to hantavirus</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But by the time the 500-bed Bullsbrook facility was completed and handed over to the WA Government in October 2022, mandatory quarantining of COVID-19-exposed travellers had already been abolished.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite this, then-premier Mark McGowan remained adamant that the centre would be put to use in some capacity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It did briefly house bushfire evacuees in 2023 but has lain dormant since and was handed back to the federal government's Department of Finance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>'State-of-the-art' accommodation lying dormant</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Heralded by the federal government at the time as "state-of-the-art" accommodation, the facility was built with quarantine requirements in mind.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The neat rows of terraced apartments all feature separate open-air entrances and staircases to allow for safe movement and food deliveries without the risk of cross-contamination.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The apartments are fitted with customised ventilation systems to prevent the spread of infection and feature easy-to-disinfect surfaces and furnishings.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Built with long-term residence in mind, the apartments all come with their own bathrooms and kitchenettes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the centre is set up to provide centralised food and laundry services.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There's also room for health services on site.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite a critical shortage of low-income housing in Perth, both state and federal governments have struggled to re-purpose the accommodation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In early 2023, there was a proposal for it to be used as accommodation for regional and international students struggling to find housing in Perth's tight rental market.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australian-soldier-dies-while-completing-parachuting-training-course/fe445300-e1cd-4574-85f6-e0684a90454e" rel="" target="" title="'Highly-skilled' Aussie soldier who died during parachute training named"><strong><span>'Highly-skilled' Aussie soldier who died during parachute training named</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the centre was deemed unsuitable due to the lack of surrounding infrastructure and distance from the University of WA - around 50 kilometres.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Later that same year, there was speculation that the Department of Defence might take over the site, but in the end it fell into the hands of the finance department.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There have been repeated calls for the centre to be used to help house Perth's homeless, but these have also failed, seemingly due to similar misgivings about the lack of surrounding infrastructure.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The six cruise ship passengers are expected to remain at the centre under newly updated health orders for at least three weeks, although that period may be extended.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" 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