A $6-million Rural Fire Service (RFS) helicopter has arrived at its new home at Coffs Harbour but has already been deployed to respond to flooding in central-west New South Wales.
RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said Coffs Harbour was chosen as a "good strategic location" following the 2019-2020 bushfires.
"We've been putting four of our helicopters outside of Sydney because we want our helicopters to be closer to the people that they're serving," he said.
He said while the chopper had been commissioned for local firefighting, flood rescue had been among roles the RFS was assisting with.
Commissioner Rogers said more than 100 people had been rescued by RFS helicopters in the past 12 months.
"All of our aircraft at the moment are in the central-west … helping people around the Orange, Molong area," he said.
"We've seen in these floods that vehicles can't get to these communities.
"Sometimes it takes a while to get boats.
"They've been rescuing people out of cars, off roofs and we've seen during the fires there was a number of people, more than 50 people, rescued during those fire seasons."
While the chopper would be busy elsewhere for now, Commissioner Rogers said the Coffs Harbour base would mean quicker response times.
"If the weather comes in, and [with] storms, you can't actually get the helicopters out of Sydney," he said.
"The north coast of NSW is a really heavily populated area and it needs that level of support."
Filling a service gap
Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh said the location made "perfect sense" as there had been a gap in aerial capability on NSW's Mid North Coast.
"We've got a large airport here. We're a short flight to many different places … it obviously has potential to save many, many lives," he said.
Mr Singh hoped the chopper would also be able to assist with ocean searches and rescues.
"I know that when you have to get a helicopter up from Wollongong or Newcastle … it's a long flight time before they can actually get here and start searching," he said.
"Whereas a helicopter based here … could be up in the air shortly.
"You've got a much higher chance of finding someone alive."
A 'cherished' asset
Coffs Harbour State Emergency Service Unit Commander Ian Horncastle said his organisation valued the investment.
"It definitely is an asset that all services will cherish," he said.
"Obviously it's an opportunity for us to be able to respond quicker and airlift both emergency services and casualties in and out of locations, hopefully."
