Life-saving aeromedical services have received a $100,000 boost after Council donated funds to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and RACQ LifeFlight on behalf of the Bundaberg Region community.
The two services have supported the Bundaberg Region for 17 years providing thousands of air ambulance patient transfers each year.
Mayor Jack Dempsey said Council was pleased to continue its support of RFDS and LifeFlight through the two $50,000 donations.
“From their Bundaberg base these services provide a valuable, life-saving service to people not just from our region but the wider Wide Bay area,” Mayor Dempsey said.
“The emergency support provided by these outstanding community organisations is highly valued by our community.”
Mayor Dempsey said the $100,000 donation would assist in the construction of the new joint aeromedical base at the Bundaberg Region Aviation and Aerospace Precinct.
“Having this emergency facility in the heart of the Bundaberg Region is a strategic placement of medical and rescue services in the state of Queensland.
“The Bundaberg Aeromedical Base and Patient Transfer Facility is a major step forward in the maturity of our regional airport and Council is delighted that it has been able to partner in the development of this new precinct.
“The provision of airside land and the development of appropriate lease arrangements have been important steps in bringing this project to fruition.”
RFDS and LifeFlight donation welcomed by groups
LifeFlight Australia Chair Rob Borbidge thanked the Bundaberg Region for the “exceedingly generous” contribution which he said would help construct the aeromedical facility which was a major Australian first.
“This is the first time that there has been a new building, purpose-built, from the ground up which both organisations will share,” Mr Borbidge said.
“We’re seeing increased cooperation between both organisations and in many respects Bundaberg is now leading the way,”
Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) CEO Meredith Staib also welcomed the donation.
“We are grateful to the Bundaberg Regional Council for this very generous gift which will allow the Royal Flying Doctor Service to continue to provide world-class aeromedical care to the Bundaberg and Wide Bay region for generations to come,” Ms Staib said.
