Bairnsdale Airport to be upgraded

By TOMPARRY

BAIRNSDALE Airport is set to benefit from amillion-dollarimprovementtoits Air Ambulance service.

The federalgovernment announced on Friday, January 20 that the facility would receive $1,546,379 as part of the Regional Airports Program.

The funding will go towards the construction of an ambulance patient transfer facility, plus adedicated taxiway and apron for Medevac aircraft.

Figures from across the political spectrum have warmly received the announcement, including East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor,Mark Reeves.

The Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester,said upgrades to the Bairnsdale Airportremain a“high priority”.

“TheBairnsdaleAirport is operatedby East Gippsland Shireand Iwill continue to workwith the council to source funding for significant upgrades to meet our region’s aviation needs,” said Mr Chester,who was recently appointed the Shadow Minister for Regional Education, Regional Development, Local government and Territories.

“During times of crisis,likethe Black Summerbushfires, the airport was critical for movement of personnel and essential supplies.

This latest $1.5 million willassist the ongoing redevelopment to upgrade facilities for locals and visitorstoour region and provide better services in medical emergencies.”

East Gippsland ShireCouncil is pleased to receive funding to construct an ambulance patient transfer facility at Bairnsdale Airport,” Cr Reeves said.

“It is very important to council and East Gippsland residents, that emergency services have appropriate facilities to enable them to support our community.

“The patient transfer facility for Air Ambulance Victoria is part of the airport’s masterplan and will significantly improve the patientexperienceatBairnsdaleAirport.

“It will provide patient privacy; protection from the weather; and aplace to carefor the patient while waiting for the aircraft, particularly when patients condition requires urgent evacuation or deterioration prior to aircraft arrival.”

The state Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, called the announcement “a fantastic result” for the region.

“My office was morethan happy to support the East Gippsland Shire’s application for this funding, and that was on the basis that our airport hereatBairnsdale has the highest number of fixed-wing aeromedical retrievals in regional Victoria,” Mr Bull said.

“When this work is done, this facility will ensurethat those patients can be treated in… amoreprivate and an undercover area while waitingfor their medical transfer from road ambulance to fixed wing.

“So it’s asignificantupgrade, and an important one.

“This sort of facility does go along way to improving health outcomes for those who need it when emergency situations arise.”

The latest round of funding comes after the airport received $9.9million as part of the BushfireRecovery Grants Program, also provided by the federal government.

“If you add this (latest)funding onto the other,itwillsee an across-the-board upgrade to the airport, obviously not only for medical patients, but to the airport more generally,” Mr Bull said.

“Hopefullyafter these significant upgrades, we’ll be able to land larger aircraft, and it alsoopens up in thefuture for thepossibility of having acommercial air service operating in and out of Bairnsdale.”

Establishedin2019bythe previous Coalition government,the Regional Airports Program is acompetitive grants program that provides federal funding for safety and infrastructureupgrades at aviation facilities across the country.

Bairnsdale Airport is one of 44 airports and aerodromes across regional Australia to benefit from the latest round of funding, which totals $27.9 million.

TheFederal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King,saidthat investing in regional airportswas critical to supporting the operational requirements of aeromedical and other emergency services.