buzzanddidj wrote on May 4
th, 2011 at 3:25pm:
Ballarat helipad pledge
BENJAMIN PREISS
01 Nov, 2010 11:44 PM
HELIPAD proponents scored a major victory yesterday after the state government pledged $10 million towards the project atop a new car park in Ballarat.
Health Minister Daniel Andrews visited the Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital yesterday to open the newly redeveloped hospital emergency department, when he made the announcement.
The pre-election pledge comes after the Coalition committed $2 million to a helipad at the hospital. Under the Labor plan, the helipad would be built on top of a new multi-deck car park close to the emergency department.
Mr Andrews said the Labor funding commitment would cover the "helipad on top of the car park and it covers a substantial portion of the car park itself".
A rally planned for next week to lobby the government to build a helipad could become a street party instead.
Hospitals Emergency Landing Pad founder Carole Simmons said she was pleased a helipad would be built, with both sides of politics committing to the project.
"After six years we thought it would never happen, it's really great to hear," she said.
But I guess we have to keep them to some sort of time frame."
Opposition health spokesman David Davis said the Coalition had "consistently advocated" for a helipad since 2004. "I welcome the backflip by Labor after 11 years in government," Mr Davis said.
http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/10m-ballarat-helipad-pledge... Last month the Ballarat Helipad Implementation Working Group was formed after a meeting between Health Minister David Davis and members of HELP (Hospitals Emergency Landing Pad).
The committee will ensure the operational issues of Ambulance Victoria are met, that a helipad facility will fit long-term plans of BHS and will take into account community views.
The group, to be chaired by member for Western Victoria David Koch, will also include MP Simon Ramsay, representatives from Ambulance Victoria, Ballarat Health Services, the Health Department and HELP. The first meeting of the group will be held next Wednesday.
A spokesman for Health Minister David Davis said the Coalition had not reneged on its commitment to the helipad, adding there were real steps, through the formation of the
working committee, to move the project closer to fruition.