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$50,000 to establish Mortlake emergency helicopter landing area

Mortlake will soon have an all-weather emergency helicopter landing area, following a $50,000 donation from Mt Fyans Wind Farm.

The funding will streamline patient transfers by allowing emergency helicopters to land on a new hard surface at the Mortlake Recreation Reserve. This will provide an all-weather year-round emergency landing area.

Mortlake Recreation Reserve Committee of Management Lighting Project convener Mick Murphy OAM said the donation would put an end to ambulances being bogged when trying to transfer patients to emergency helicopters on the oval.

“Currently emergency choppers have to land on the oval and this has presented several problems, including the ambulance being bogged and patients then having to be carried to the helicopter in rain and wind,” Mr Murphy said.

“This new landing area will mean emergency transfers can be made much more safely, with the road ambulance now able to drive right up to the emergency helicopter.

“This $50,000 donation from Mt Fyans Wind Farm will provide an off-oval landing area which will be easily accessed year-round. We are very grateful for their support, which has made this project a reality.”

Ambulance Victoria Senior Team Manager HEMS4 (Acting) Ben Hespe said the initiative will help them to ‘provide outstanding emergency healthcare every time’.

“It will certainly make it easier and safer for us to care for and transport patients, particularly at night and in inclement weather,” Mr Hespe said.

“We thank you for helping to establish a safer and more reliable, all year, hard surface area which improves our response capability into Mortlake township itself and the surrounding region.”

Mt Fyans Wind Farm Project Director Giles Rinckes said the company was thrilled to support an important project that was a perfect fit with the company’s community support framework.

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