Gunnedah Shire Council is continuing its advocacy for the reinstatement of the helicopter landing site (HLS) at Gunnedah Hospital and is calling on Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) to meet directly with the council to discuss the future of the service.
The council says it remains committed to having the hospital helipad reinstated as the primary landing site for aeromedical retrievals and has consistently sought a collaborative approach to resolving the issue.
Mayor Colleen Fuller said the 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,” 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.”
The council says it has sought a meeting with HNELHD for several months and continues to call for direct discussions in Gunnedah 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,” 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.”
The council said it gave that commitment to the NSW Health Minister 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 standoff. 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,” 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 the council’s April ordinary meeting, staff investigated measures to ensure any use of council facilities by HNELHD is safe, appropriately managed and does not place additional costs on local ratepayers.
The council is proposing a new landing fee for aircraft exceeding 5,700kg that require a pavement concession. The proposal will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days.
The proposed fee reflects the additional impact of heavier aircraft, including the AW139 helicopter, on council infrastructure and is intended to ensure the associated costs are not borne by the community.
The council will also notify NSW Health that continued use of council facilities for patient transfers will require either a 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,” Fuller said.
“We cannot allow local ratepayers to bear the cost or risk of decisions made by another level of government.”
“Council welcomes advice received this week that HNELHD will work with Council in respect of ensuring that any landings at Council facilities can occur safely and has already actioned some measures at the Gunnedah Hospital to ensure landings can still occur there when required, but unfortunately at this stage not as a primary landings 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,” Fuller 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.”
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