The NSW Government has announced $158.8 million in funding as part of the 2025-26 Budget to deliver construction of three new NSW Ambulance helicopter bases in regional and rural NSW.
The funding commitment is in addition to the $126.6 million previously provided by the NSW Government.
The new helicopter bases will be built in Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga and Moruya, and once constructed will optimise ambulance helicopter response performances to ensure timely access to emergency care across these rural and regional communities.
The new builds comes as Gunnedah waits on an outcome for its own hospital helipad. Air evacuations from the Gunnedah Hospital helipad were transferred to the airport months ago and there was no word when this service would be reinstated.
Meanwhile, Gunnedah Shire Council was this week preparing to write to the NSW Health Minister Ryan Park and State Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson to seek the urgent reinstatement of the helicopter pad at Gunnedah Hospital.
Councillors endorsed a notice of motion by councillor Robert Hoddle to support the call to enable NSW Ambulance to continue air ambulance operations from the landing pad.
The three new bases to built by the government will join the existing NSW Ambulance aeromedical network of 12 helicopters and six bases located in Bankstown (Sydney), Wollongong, Orange, Belmont (Newcastle), Lismore and Tamworth.
This is in addition to the NSW Ambulance fixed-wing aircraft fleet which services the entire state and includes two PC-24 jets and four Beechcraft King Air 350C based at Mascot
NSW Ambulance chief executive, Dr Dominic Morgan, said: “NSW Ambulance helicopter operations clinicians attend more than 4200 incidents every year.
“The new helicopter bases mean a NSW Ambulance helicopter will be able to fly to the majority of towns across the state within 60 minutes.”
