Mount Isa Airport is now home to North-West Queensland’s newest aeromedical base, with the official opening of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and LifeFlight base this morning.
Queensland Airports Limited CEO Amelia Evans, Chief Operating Officer Marion Charlton, Chief Property and Planning Officer Brian McGuckin and Mount Isa Airport Manager Jo Terry attended the official opening.
The $31.8 million facility replaces the former RFDS aircraft hangar which had been in operation for more than 60 years.
Featuring three dedicated hangar bays, uplifted maintenance areas and dedicated patient transfer facilities, the new facility will improve efficiencies and conditions for healthcare providers, enabling timely emergency medical support for remote communities, ensuring access to critical healthcare services.
The base services one of the largest footprints in Australia, from the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north and the Northern Territory border in the west to Hughenden in the east and Bedourie in the south.
In 2023-24, Mount Isa Airport, as a supporting partner, helped to facilitate the transport of over 1,000 patients and more than 2,300 RFDS flights between Queensland’s most remote areas.
Queensland Airports Limited CEO Amelia Evans said they were proud to support the delivery of this important facility at Mount Isa Airport.
“As the gateway to North West Queensland, we’re proud of the role Mount Isa Airport plays in providing locals with access to critical medical care and this facility further strengthens that role,” Ms Evans said.
“Connecting communities is at the heart of what we do and this facility will ensure LifeFlight and the RFDS can deliver essential aeromedical services to people across one of the largest and most remote regions in Queensland.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact this joint facility will have on the wellbeing of local communities for years to come.”
Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section) CEO Meredith Staib said the new Mount Isa Base will continue to play a significant role in ensuring vital medical care gets to people in even the most remote parts of the north west.
“The new facility is state-of-the-art; it allows us to better treat patients with a dedicated ambulance bay and patient transfer facility,” Ms. Staib said.
“We’ve had significant support from Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) which has enabled us to make the most of the newly developed site.
“We can’t thank QAL enough for their contribution towards improving medical care across the region.”
The new base, supported by the Federal Government, will allow RFDS to expand their Mount Isa operations with 10 new ongoing jobs.
“The Crisafulli Government is committed to restoring health services when and where Queenslanders need them and this new aeromedical base means medical teams can better deliver their lifesaving, primary and preventative healthcare services throughout the North and North West” Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said.
“The old hangar had been in operation since the sixties, and it’s my hope that these new and improved facilities allow the RFDS to provide lifesaving support to regional Queenslanders for another six decades, at least,” Assistant Minister for Regional Development Senator Anthony Chisholm said.
“As a government, we’re proud to be honouring and extending the legacy of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in regional and remote Queensland.”