A helipad for Glen Innes Hospital is inching closer, with a consultant’s engineering report due to be delivered to Hunter New England Health by the end of this week and fundraising efforts continuing.
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The coffers were boosted to the tune of $1500 last Friday thanks to a donation from Tamworth-based family-owned company Rollers Australia, which does road works throughout the region. Although maintaining a low profile, the company has been a regular donor to the hospital auxiliary for several years and is keen to see its donations put towards local projects.
Auxiliary president Jan Sharman was quick to ask if the funds could go towards the helipad, and company representative Peter Wighton was happy to oblige.
“Wherever you think it should go,” Mr Wighton said.
“The owners want to see it go back into the local community.”
Mrs Sharman has been campaigning for the helipad for a number of years, and said she hopes to see the first helicopter land in her lifetime. While she is wished a long and healthy life, she may see that helicopter sooner rather than later as the process unfolds.
HNEH’s technical services manager Stewart Symons was on hand to point out the proposed location for the helipad, taking into account the need for two clear approaches (with the removal of several trees) and some cut-and-fill works.
Mr Symons said once the finalisation of the consultant’s report then made way for a feasibility study, which would take into account the demand such a helipad would meet. Quantifying this would fall to Glen Innes Health Service manager Cathryn Jones, who said the figures would warrant having a helipad on site.
Currently rescue helicopters have to land at Wilson Park, with seasonal fog often causing problems. Mrs Jones said having a landing facility on hospital grounds would certainly cut down transfer time from hospital bed to helicopter, and associated costs.
While she couldn’t put a figure on it, Mrs Sharman said a considerable volume of community donations had been earmarked for the helipad, and the state member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has been very supportive in efforts to raise funding for the initiative.
Mr Symons said the planning process was being carried out very carefully to ensure the long-term success of the project, but he expects the helipad to be open for business within around 18 months of the project getting the green light.
