Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson rejects calls for rescue helicopter base in Geraldton after crash

Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson says the State Government has no intention to establish a dedicated rescue helicopter base in Geraldton despite desperate pleas from volunteers and leaders in the Mid West region. A triple-fatal car rollover in a remote part of the region late on Saturday, August 10, which killed Gabrielle Brockman, 21, her aunty Marrika Brockman, 33, and Marrika’s five-week-old son Levi Ashwin, has sparked reiterated calls for a rescue helicopter to be based in the region. City of Greater Geraldton mayor Jerry Clune is rallying behind the shire of Carnarvon, Northampton, Mount Magnet and Yalgoo for the service to be expanded. He said there was a significant gap in lifesaving resources north of Perth and welcomed a rescue helicopter base at the Geraldton Airport. “The Mid West is calling for its own emergency helicopter to treat our entire community,” he said. “Accessing emergency care by vehicle can take hours when every minute counts in life-threatening cases. Having an aeromedical service that can immediately respond would reduce time spent on roads and help save lives. “Geraldton Airport has the potential to be this service’s base and we have accounted for that in our master plan, but we need the state government’s support to make it happen.” Both Yalgoo CEO Ian Holland and Mount Magnet shire president Jim McGorman believe help would have arrived hours earlier with a base in Geraldton in respect to the recent rollover on Geraldton-Mount Magnet road. The Royal Flying Doctor Service was unable to land in the area due to fog, doubling the distance ambulances needed to travel before the injured could be evacuated. The State Government is investing nearly $27 million to upgrade WA’s aerial emergency services and boost capability, but local leaders say more resources are needed in the region. Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton said she had heard from the community and would continue to advocate for expanded services across the region. “The State Government conducted service reviews in 2017 and 2019, and continues to assess community needs to ensure our aerial emergency services remain responsive and effective,” she said. Ms Dalton highlighted the incredible job of both front line emergency services personnel and the Royal Flying Doctor Service that serviced the region. “Like the rest of the Mid West community, I’m deeply saddened by the rollover in Yalgoo over the weekend, and my thoughts are with the families and the community,” she said. “The investigation into the incident is under way and it’s important we await the outcome of that investigation.” Mr Dawson said there were no plans for a dedicated rescue helicopter base in Geraldton, but the contract with the RAC for new helicopters included options for additional service delivery and capability. He said three new long-range helicopters would cover more than 91 per cent of the State’s population, an area of 334,000sqkm. “The Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service is strategically positioned to cover regional areas from bases in Jandakot and Bunbury with fuel depots strategically located for extended missions,” he said. “The new twin-engine helicopters can fly faster and for longer distances — an increase from the current 400km range up to 700km — enabling them to reach destinations such as Dongara or Albany without the need for refuelling stops. “In addition, the helicopters can be forward based in other regions during large-scale incidents. For example, they were deployed during the Carnarvon and Kimberley floods and in response to cyclone Seroja.” Geraldton resident Ian Dempsey petitioned for the service in Parliament last year, garnering more than 1000 signatures. The City of Greater Geraldton says it will continue to support Mid West local governments in advocating for an emergency helicopter to be based at Geraldton Airport.