A vital Sunshine Coast-based rescue service is set to benefit from a massive funding commitment worth hundreds of millions of dollars and a new purpose-built base.
LifeFlight is set to receive more than $586 million in State Government funding during the next 10 years, with a new base to be built at the Aerospace Precinct at Sunshine Coast Airport.
The funding arrangement should ensure the group’s search, rescue and aeromedical services will continue to operate, bringing equity of health care to people across the state.
LifeFlight Australia chair Jim Elder embraced the funding commitment.
“This announcement is welcome news for LifeFlight and the communities we serve every day,” he said.
LifeFlight CEO Ashley Mr van de Velde said the funding would allow it to help those who need it most.
“For more than 40 years, LifeFlight Australia has been Queensland’s largest community helicopter rescue service, delivering emergency response, critical medical care and inter-hospital airlifts to seriously ill and injured people,” he said.
“The announcement ensures that we can continue to provide this vital rescue service to the people of Queensland with the assurance that emergency medical care is available 24/7, 365 days a year, no matter where you live.”
More than $18 million was allocated to building the new base.
The purpose-built hub, designed for the increasing demands of the region, is set to future-proof LifeFlight’s aeromedical service for generations to come.
The hangar will have appropriate space and support facilities to give LifeFlight the versatility to – if operationally required – immediately house two AW139 RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopters and one Challenger 604 Air Ambulance jet.
Mr van de Velde said the facility would be a real benefit.
“When completed, this base will give us the flexibility to accommodate various combinations of aircraft from the LifeFlight fleet, depending on the needs of the state’s aeromedical network,” he said.
“It may be two choppers and a jet; it might be multiple helicopters.”
The base will include crew accommodation and other improved facilities to make 24-hour response more efficient, larger engineering areas, direct ambulance access to the hangar, more space for support and administration staff and a visitor centre to allow for even more engagement between LifeFlight and the local community.
The Roy and Nola Thompson LifeFlight Hangar, which houses the service’s current operations, will be retained by the service.
Sunshine Coast Airport is helping guarantee the future of LifeFlight, with generous terms on a 20-plus-year lease of a parcel of land large enough to build the current planned base and allow room for expansion in the decades ahead.
Construction of the new base will take about 11 months and should start early next year, following a tender process.
The massive funding commitment will also be used to upgrade equipment, including a modern power-stretcher loading system compatible with Queensland Ambulance Service stretchers and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The funding will also allow LifeFlight to be able to upgrade ageing helicopters, create centralised maintenance facilities and invest in aeromedical infrastructure in regional Queensland.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the funding would ensure help is at hand for people around the state.
“It will ensure Queenslanders in rural, regional and remote parts of the state continue to have ongoing emergency medical helicopter services – from Mount Isa to the Cape, Kirra to Cunnamulla.”
Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said LifeFlight made a critical difference to people.
“We are fortunate to have a world-class dedicated, agile and reliable helicopter rescue service for seriously ill and injured Queenslanders,” he said.
LifeFlight has been connected to the region since 1979, when the rescue chopper fired up for its first mission from a base at the Big Cow on the Bruce Highway.
Next month marks 10 years since the organisation and the Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service merged.
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