The Gunnedah district will benefit from the new winching service reinstated to the region’s Westpac Rescue Helicopter service, with vital rescues in difficult areas once again possible.
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The two Tamworth-based helicopters were forced to cease winching operations in July of 2013 as part of sweeping NSW government reforms of aero-medical services, however after a community backlash and a strong campaign, the service will return with a bigger and better helicopter fleet.
They will operate from Tamworth, Newcastle and Lismore.
“This has provided the catalyst for winching to be reinstated in Tamworth,” Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said.
The Gunnedah district has benefited from the chopper’s winching services in the past, along with the Pilliga area where there have been several incidents.
“In the Gunnedah area and surrounds, there’s some hilly country out there and there’s a possibility at times where the winching would be used if there’s bushwalkers, mountain bikers or horse riders,” a Westpac helicopter media spokesperson said.
“The cases in which winching is based is on the scenario of what the crew come across and visually see on the scene.”
Gunnedah-based member of the Westpac Helicopter Tamworth Advisory Board, Ross Whitaker, represents the mining industry and said the region needs a helicopter with a winch.
“What it does is expedites the time from injury to getting to hospital,” Mr Whitaker said.
The mining industry is also a big supporter financially to the service.
“The mine workers are the highest single contributor to the chopper mainly through payroll deductions and most of the companies match it dollar for dollar,” Mr Whitaker said.
The new AW 139 helicopters will provide significant safety improvements that are required, which has allowed winching to return to Tamworth.
Training for pilots and engineers started on the new choppers last year with other operational and medical staff due to start their aircraft training early next year.
Tamworth will see the new aircraft operating in the region in late 2017.