A $72-million Queensland Regional Aeromedical Base will be built between Brisbane’s two runways at the Airport North Precinct under Brisbane Airport Corporation plans.
It is part of the $1.8-billion masterplan for the Brisbane Airport Precinct that also includes a $1-billion auto mall.
The multi-tenanted facility will have a gross floor area of 14,470sq m to accommodate the Royal Flying Doctors Service, LifeFlight and Queensland Health facilities.
BAC chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff said the facility would include patient transfer capabilities, state-of-the-art hangars, administration areas, and a medical base for regional patient and donor transfers to help service regional areas of Queensland.
“As the heart of the Queensland network for patient retrieval and medical transfers, the Queensland Regional Aeromedical Base at Brisbane Airport will enhance the network of aeromedical bases located throughout regional Queensland,” de Graaff said.
“A world-class development like this is not only a reflection of the strategic value of Brisbane Airport’s location and amenity, but also of our ability to deliver the best aeronautical connectivity and capacity thanks to our parallel runway system.”
The project is a state-led initiative focusing on long-term community wellbeing.
De Graaff said the project would support about 200 construction jobs and 220 direct jobs that would contribute about $100 million to the economy annually.
"Brisbane Airport is the logical choice for such a facility, providing the quickest possible response time to get planes and helicopters in the air and on their way to the regions, and bring patients in to Queensland’s major hospitals,” he said.
"We are working with the state government, RFDS, and LifeFlight to finalise these plans and will then seek approval from the Federal government to proceed with this new facility to provide critical medical care to Queenslanders who live outside Greater Brisbane.”
The project is under public consultation until July 2022 as part of a major development plan, which also includes the $1-billion BNE Auto Mall.
BAC has recently completed the earthworks phase of the 51.3ha auto mall development and it is seeking to partner with a track and event operator to manage the track, entertainment and events within the automotive precinct, which is due to be completed in 2024.
The Queensland Aeromedical Base is scheduled for completion in April, 2023.
