Emergency Helicopters Still Grounded at Two South Australian Regional Hospital Helipads

Medical retrieval helicopters remain unable to land at the helipads of two regional South Australian hospitals, leaving officials without a specific timeline for when the sites will return to full service. The ongoing closures affect the Southern Fleurieu Health Service in Victor Harbor and the regional hospital in Murray Bridge, forcing emergency crews to rely on alternative transport arrangements.

According to reports from ABC South East SA by Caroline Horn, the two facilities represent the final locations awaiting clearance out of 13 regional hospital helipads across the state that were temporarily shut down in 2024. The closures were triggered when the landing sites failed to meet updated guidelines established by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Before the helipads can resume operations, they require formal safety certification from Babcock, the private operator managing the state government's MedSTAR helicopter service.

While the regional helipads remain offline, emergency medical retrieval services continue to operate in the affected areas. MedSTAR personnel have been utilizing nearby sports ovals as alternative landing sites, relying on local ambulances to transfer patients between the makeshift landing zones and the hospitals. South Australian Health Minister Blair Boyer emphasized that patient, staff, and community safety remain the government's primary focus while alternative procedures are in place.

The obstacles preventing the reopening of the two sites stem from regulatory requirements concerning downwash exclusion zones and the physical proximity of nearby structures. At Murray Bridge, concerns involve homes located within the required safety buffer zone. At Victor Harbor, the helipad sits directly adjacent to a community-run childcare and education facility, which currently operates under a peppercorn lease with SA Health that extends until 2030.

Political leaders and local representatives have raised concerns over the lack of a definitive timeline for the resumption of services. Addressing state parliament, Health Minister Boyer stated that issues at Murray Bridge were nearing resolution through ongoing discussions with residents living within the affected downwash zone, noting he hoped to share positive news "soon." However, he cautioned that restoring the Victor Harbor helipad presents a more "complex" challenge requiring extended planning.

Local lawmakers have pressed the state government for greater clarity. Robert Roylance, the One Nation member for Hammond, noted that his constituents in Murray Bridge want more precise timelines than ministerial assurances that a fix is coming "soon," pointing out that a 66-metre clearance area is required around the landing site, putting several nearby residences within the restricted zone.

In Victor Harbor, the proximity of the childcare centre has prompted discussions about long-term options. Lou Nicholson, the independent member for Finniss, indicated her understanding from government discussions that officials do not intend to wait until the current lease expires in 2030 to resolve the matter. Nicholson stressed that if finding an alternative location for the childcare facility is the chosen path forward, that planning must commence immediately.

To address the broader compliance mandate, the South Australian government has invested $23.4 million toward upgrading regional helicopter landing sites across the state to satisfy updated CASA standards. State health authorities maintain that work is actively progressing to bring the Murray Bridge and Victor Harbor sites back into full operation, though a firm completion date has not yet been established.