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Active Disclosure
Launceston General Hospital (LGH) Helipad
Active Disclosure Timeline and Schedule of Documents
| Date | Action/Document | Document Number |
|---|---|---|
| 18 May 2018 | LGH Helipad Landing Protocol effected. | 1 |
| December 2018 | Part 91 (General operating and flight rules) and Part 133 (Australian air transport operations rotorcraft) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (Cth) (CASR) published by Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). | |
| 20 April 2020 | Rotorlift requests Ambulance Tasmania (AT) remove light poles near LGH Helipad to accommodate new Bell 412 Helicopter. | |
| 31 July 2020 | Rotorlift requests AT trim trees around LGH Helipad. | |
| December 2020 | Manual of Standards published by CASA. | |
| February 2021 |
LGH Masterplan – Draft, reports drafted by facility planning and architect identifying roof of future hospital tower block as potential site for a helipad. |
|
| July 2021 | LGH Helipad Landing Protocol reviewed. | |
| 13 August 2021 |
Rotorlift advice to AT regarding new regulations: “The Hospital helipad for Launceston General Hospital will effectively become unviable for MTO [medical transport operations] after December 2023, due to size and design limitations”. |
|
| 10 September 2021 |
Ambulance Tasmania advised Department of Health (DoH), Infrastructure Services: “Advise on Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) compliance issues with Launceston General Hospital (LGH) Helicopter Landing Site (HLS), specifically that no helicopters will be permitted to land at the current HLS from 2 December 2023”. “Recommend that replacement of the LGH HLS is factored into the LGH Masterplan as a matter of urgency to ensure continuity of emergency retrieval services for the site”. |
|
| 6 October 2021 | Request for Quotation (RFQ) issued to Consultant A. | |
| 8 October 2021 |
DoH advice to AT: “Future location of the HLS has been considered in the LGH Masterplan, with several possible options. Infrastructure has engaged an aviation consultant to provide advice on locations for the HLS in the short and long term. Given lead times for design, statutory approvals and construction, there may be a period of time where helicopter landings are undertaken off-site”. |
|
| 19 October 2021 | Consultant A response to RFQ received by DoH. | |
| 2 December 2021 | Majority of the new operational requirements came into effect, with some provisions having a delayed commencement to give operators sufficient time to transition to the new requirements. | |
| March 2022 | Government releases LGH Masterplan Implementation Program, including Review helipad operations and develop a plan for upgrading the LGH precinct helipad landing site with anticipated completion date of Quarter 3 2022. | |
| 15 March 2022 | Letter from DoH to Launceston City Council requesting advice / consultancy and engaging council planner. | |
| 29 March 2022 | Letter from Launceston City Council to DoH acknowledging letter of 29 March 2022 and advising council contact. | |
| April 2022 | Consultant A meetings with aeromedical retrieval stakeholder groups. Feedback from Group 4 – Rotorlift. New CASA regulations have rendered the existing HLS as no longer fit for purpose, with a December 2023 deadline to cease operations. |
|
| 27 June 2022 | AT advises DoH that LGH Helipad not able to be used after December 2023. | |
| 19 August 2022 | Draft LGH HLS feasibility report. | |
| September 2022 | Preliminary advice to AT from Consultant B regarding ongoing suitability of LGH Helipad and offer to undertake formal review. | |
| September – November 2022 | AT and Rotorlift consider alternative locations fort temporary helipad, based on Consultant B advice. | |
| 8 December 2022 | Secretary of DoH provided with Issues Brief. | |
| 13 December 2022 | Formal advice from Rotorlift to AT that they are unwilling to accept risks associated with LGH Helipad. | |
| 16 December 2022 | Secretary of DoH advised of above in meeting. | |
| 31 December 2022 | LGH Helipad Closed. | |
| 5 January 2023 | Media release regarding closure of LGH Helipad. | |
| 19 January 2023 | Premier advised of issues around LGH Helipad. |
