General News
12 July, 2022
New patient transfer opened
MORE than 50 residents turned out on a Saturday to see the HEMS 4 air ambulance helicopter visited to officially open Cobden’s new patient transfer pad.
MORE than 50 residents turned out on a Saturday to see the HEMS 4 air ambulance helicopter visited to officially open Cobden’s new patient transfer pad.
The air ambulance patient transfer pad built in 2020 has been connected to the runway with a $74,000 sealed taxiway.
The $25 million HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) 4 helicopter can now land more safely when unpaved ground is too soft for its 10-tonne weight.
At 65m long and 10.5m wide, the taxiway was funded by $50,000 from council and $24,000 from the Cobden Aerodrome Community Asset Committee through its fundraising efforts.
The transfer pad, where road vehicles can deliver patients to the air ambulance, was funded in 2019 when the Cobden aerodrome committee secured $30,000 through the State Government’s Pick My Project program which local residents voted for.
While Cobden is in Corangamite Shire’s South Central Ward, the aerodrome is in South West Ward.
The two ward representatives, Cr Kate Makin and Cr Jo Beard, both praised the community for their efforts to make the project a reality.
Cr Makin welcomed the crowd.
“It’s great that the community turned out to support the project,” she said.
“The support has been excellent from the start when people voted for the Pick my Project funding that made the first stage of the project possible.
“It’s fantastic that the HEMS4 team could come and join us today and show everyone how it all works.”
Cr Beard said this project was a special one for the entire community not only now a safe strategic landing base for the helicopter but it also provides more privacy and sensitivity around the transfer of the patients who are involved in the emergency.
“A project like this means so much to a community and my heart is certainly smiling now that we have finally completed the project,” she said.
“We couldn’t have achieved this without the financial support let alone the ongoing commitment from a very dedicated committee.”
Feedback from the HEMS4 crew to council was they appreciated the community’s vision and the upgrade to the asset.
Aerodrome committee chairman Duncan Morris said he did not want to leave anybody out but special thanks must go to vice-chairman and aerodrome reporting officer Warren Ponting who initiated the Pick My Project application, the community who voted for it and the fundraising committee who raised the contribution for the taxiway.
“It’s an excellent addition to the facility. It allows much better access to the transfer pad than was previously available,” Mr Morris said.
“They can get to it in a really easy and practical way.
“The new pad allows them to get to the aircraft safely, do the transfer and take off again.”
