Fears petition for Mid West emergency rescue chopper has been rejected after minister’s response

A “deflated” advocate for a Mid West-based emergency helicopter fears the community petition calling for the service has been rejected by the State Government after it was finalised last week. A community-organised petition with more than 1000 signatures calling for a rescue helicopter in the Mid West was tabled in Parliament in August last year, after an inquiry into aeromedical services in WA found such a service could have significant benefits for the region. It was finalised with a letter of response from Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson last Wednesday. In the letter, Mr Dawson said the Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service currently has the ability to cover 90 per cent of the State’s population from its current bases and new helicopters were expected to be online early this year. “The Cook Government continues to invest in the service, recently committing $26.7 million for three replacement next-generation ERHS AW139 helicopters and a new DFES Aviation Base at Jandakot Airport to support all-hazards rescue aeromedical and aerial firefighting aircraft operations,” the letter said. “These upgrades will see an increased operational range of 75 per cent, increased airspeed of 39 per cent, and will provide an even greater service for Western Australia ensuring our State has a world-class aeromedical rescue service for at least the next 10 years.” The letter goes on to say the improved helicopters can operate up to 700km before needing to refuel and would provide extended range into regional WA. “While I appreciate there is a genuine desire for a Mid West-based ERHS, I note that resource allocation in emergency services must be considered in the context of delivering the best possible long-term emergency service delivery to the whole State,” the letter said. Petition organiser Ian Dempsey, who is also a marine rescue volunteer, said he felt deflated but did not expect anything less. He said helicopters with extended range were not good enough, as it would still take more than two hours flying time in an emergency. “The whole of the State is entitled to the same level of protection as Perth and Peel,” he said. “We are just as important as the rest of the State. Just because we’re only 10 per cent of the population, it’s not a good excuse to exclude us from this service. “The WA Government has a responsibility to protect all West Australians and not just those in Perth and Peel.” Lara Dalton MLA said there was an interpretation that the State Government has rejected the petition, but it “certainly” wasn’t her understanding. “As the local member I am strongly advocating for a new emergency helicopter to be based in Geraldton,” she said. “I will continue to raise this issue with the Government on behalf of my constituents.”