Millions spent on an ACT helipad, half of which aeromedical choppers won't use

Bureaucracy has grounded common sense at the Canberra Hospital. A facility built to save lives appears to be the centre of a cross-jurisdictional dispute.

The hospital boasts a state-of-the-art helipad, completed in August 2024 as part of a $660 million expansion. ACT Health constructed the facility with precision. They acted in good faith, consulted aviation experts, and delivered an asset meeting domestic and international standards.

Almost all aeromedical helicopters have retractable wheels and can easily move from a landing pad to a parking bay. Picture by David Ellery