Back To PROJECTS
Emergency Airlift Medical Evacuations from the Bunya Mountains:
Safe Community Landing Site (aka helipad)
The rainforest and rough mountainous terrain creates difficulty in quickly identifying safe landing sites for large medical emergency retrieval helicopters. BMCAI consulted Lifeflight, who
visited the Bunya Mountains on 11th August 2020 to provide advice re Safe Landing Sites for medivac helicopters and to do site visits to assess what location might be suitable for a Community Safe Landing Site.
The best site was located on conservation land managed by the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service (QNPWS).
BMCAI worked with local QNPWS to establish the site. QNPWS staff mowed and cleaned up the site. BMCAI acquired large tractor tyres, which they painted white to mark the corners of site and improve the visibility for helicopter pilots. The site is not accessible by the public.
In July 2021 , emergency helicopter medical evacuations were required on 2 occasions within one week in the Bunyas.
With increasing visitor and vehicular traffic numbers and the addition of the Mountain Bike Track (to be completed by mid 2022), the need for medical evacuations following accidents and medical emergencies will increase. It is comforting to know that this service is available if an emergency arises that requires medical evacuation.
