August 3, 2017
LifeFlight is about to get a new $4.39 million base at Toowoomba Airport thanks to funding from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund and financial support from local philanthropist Clive Berghofer.
The new facility, to be called the Clive Berghofer LifeFlight Centre, will involve a complete redevelopment of LifeFlight’s current area at the airport.
Regional Development Minister Senator Fiona Nash visited the Toowoomba base on Thursday to announce that LifeFlight had been successful in its grant application for $2.046 million.
The total cost of the project will be $4.395 million, with the federal funds matched by Mr Berghofer, who has been a long-time supporter of the aeromedical rescue charity.
The cost also includes general operational expenditure by LifeFlight and in-kind support from Toowoomba Regional Council, the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, Queensland Ambulance Service and the State Government.
LifeFlight will not be required to make any capital funding contribution to infrastructure costs.
LifeFlight Australia Chairman Rob Borbidge welcomed the support from Senator Nash, the Federal Government and Mr Berghofer for the project and acknowledged the support of Member for Groom Dr John McVeigh, Member for Maranoa David Littleproud and Senator Barry O’Sullivan.
“The new Clive Berghofer LifeFlight Centre is very timely given that we have just had our second consecutive record year for rescues around Queensland with Toowoomba being one of our busiest bases in Queensland with 609 lives saved in 2016-17, which was also a record,” Mr Borbidge said.
“The Toowoomba base was established 10 years ago and the base facilities have been incrementally developed and were never designed to provide a permanent solution.
“The new centre addresses a number of functional and compliance issues and ensures the base is future-proofed for the expected further growth of operations in the region.
“The fact that we have received wonderful and welcome financial support for an important piece of infrastructure means that LifeFlight can channel its limited resources into frontline services and do what it does best – saving lives.
“There are many benefits to the new Clive Berghofer LifeFlight Centre, including features such as ambulances having straight-through access to the hangar and apron for patient and medical equipment transfer.”
Mr Berghofer said he was delighted and proud to provide financial backing to such an important project.
“As a major sponsor and partner of LifeFlight for 10 years, I understand the critical need for a rescue helicopter service based in Toowoomba that provides vital emergency care to patients in rural and regional communities across South-West Queensland,” he said.
“It’s personally been very rewarding for me to see and hear of the lifesaving work that LifeFlight does and knowing that every day, we support a venture that helps sick and injured people to get world class medical care that helps them to be reunited with loved ones.”
The project is expected to be completed by 2019.
