Gunnedah Shire Council is calling on Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) to meet directly to discuss the future of the Helicopter Landing Site (HLS) at Gunnedah Hospital to ensure residents receive first-rate health services.
Council remains firmly committed to seeing the hospital helipad reinstated as the primary landing site for aeromedical retrievals and has consistently sought a collaborative approach to resolve the issue.
Mayor Colleen Fuller OAM said Council’s position had always been centred on patient outcomes, community safety and fairness for local ratepayers.
“The safest place for a medical helicopter to land in Gunnedah is at the hospital, and that’s what Council will continue to advocate for,” Mayor Fuller said.
“Our community deserves timely, direct access to emergency care, and we need clear answers and a commitment from HNELHD to reinstate the helipad. Patient safety, accountability and community trust must come before convenience or cost-shifting.”
Council has been seeking a meeting with HNELHD for several months and continues to call for direct discussions within the community about the future of the service.
“Our preferred way of doing business is to sit down together, discuss the issues and work collaboratively towards the best outcome for our community,” Mayor Fuller said.
“We want HNELHD to come to the table. Council has consistently said we are willing to work with HNELHD to resolve the issues that exist at the hospital site.”
Council provided that commitment to Minister for Health and Minister for Regional Health, the Honourable Ryan Park, MP, during the opening of the Gunnedah Hospital redevelopment, and continues to offer its support to achieve a practical solution.
“This is not about creating conflict or a stand-off. It is about doing our due diligence and ensuring decisions affecting our community’s access to healthcare are made in the best interests of patients,” Mayor Fuller said.
“We have always extended a hand of cooperation and remain willing to assist where possible, but our desired outcome remains unchanged – the primary and preferred location for a helipad in Gunnedah is at the hospital.”
Following Council’s April Ordinary meeting, staff have investigated measures to ensure any use of Council facilities by HNELHD is safe, appropriately managed and does not place additional costs on local ratepayers.
Council is proposing a new landing fee for aircraft exceeding 5,700kg and requiring a pavement concession. The proposed fee reflects the additional impact of heavier aircraft, including the AW139 helicopter, on Council infrastructure and seeks to ensure associated costs are not borne by the community. The Council resolution is on public exhibition for 28 days on Council’s website and at the Administration Building in Elgin Street.
Council will also notify NSW Health that continued use of Council facilities for patient transfers will require an appropriate safety audit to the same standard applied to the Gunnedah Hospital helipad, or suitable indemnification for risks associated with the operation of the AW139 aircraft.
“If the airport is to be used in any capacity, Council has an obligation to ensure that risks are properly assessed and managed,” Mayor Fuller said.
“We cannot allow local ratepayers to bear the cost or risk of decisions made by another level of government.”
Mayor Fuller said Council welcomed advice received last week that HNELHD would work with Council to ensure that any landings at Council facilities will occur safely, and that the public health network has already actioned some measures at the Gunnedah Hospital to ensure landings can still occur there when required. However, at this stage, it will not be the primary landing site.
“At the end of the day, all we want is to resolve the issues at Gunnedah Hospital and see the helipad returned to where it belongs,” she said.
“Our community should not receive anything less than first-rate emergency health services. We remain ready to meet with HNELHD, work through the issues, and achieve the outcome our community deserves.”
Caption: Sarah Mitchell MLC and Gunnedah Shire Mayor Colleen Fuller OAM on site at the Gunnedah Hospital, advocating for the reinstatement of the helipad as the primary landing site for emergency aeromedical services.
