22 January 2007

Garran whinges about rescue helicopter noise

| johnboy
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Richard Mulcahy has realised there are wealthy people on the other side of Red Hill who need his advocacy too.

Today he’s put out a media release demanding that something be done to reduce the noise of the rescue helicopter which the Garranites must endure.

There is no relief in sight for Garran residents whose amenity is disturbed by the helicopters according to Member for Molonglo, Mr Richard Mulcahy MLA.

“This has been an issue for some time; there is no doubt that the helicopters provide a vital service, and indeed the operators deserve the praise and gratitude of the community for the fine work that they do, but if possible I believe a solution that will minimise the impact of the flights on the surrounding community should be developed.

Perhaps a moratorium on helicopter rescues for Garran residents is in order?

Mr. Mulcahy would like the helicopter pad moved to the front of the hospital, there are a lot of people living around there too. Does their lower average net worth make their noise concerns less valid?

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patrick_keogh5:36 pm 21 Dec 11

grunge_hippy said :

What are you basing that on Chris? Where is that documented?

You’re a tosser. Get over yourself.

No point telling Chris now. He died after an accident in 2008 while being transferred by ambulance from somewhere out in the Brindabellas. And just to think he was only three hours from the hospital by 4WD ambulance.

grunge_hippy4:57 pm 21 Dec 11

“And just to put this in context, less than half the flights are actually “rescues” – the remainder are patient transfers. No doubt most are of high priority, but these are the transfers that used to take place from Yass, Cooma etc by ambulance. Think about the sequence of events – by ambulance, the patient goes from door to door. By chopper, they need to be ambulanced to the helipad, at about the time the chopper has been scrambled from Hume, then flown to Canberra, and then wheeled or ambulanced in to the Hospital proper. You got to question timings, patient comfort and costs.”

What are you basing that on Chris? Where is that documented?

You’re a tosser. Get over yourself.

troll-sniffer3:35 pm 21 Dec 11

There should be a flag on resurrected posts over three months old… I read about a page and a half of posts before I realised this was old news.

Mind you, seeing that the issue has never been resurrected since, it goes to show what a wank and waste of time the original campaign was.

luther_bendross3:02 pm 21 Dec 11

EmR said :

ts just a bunch of rich idiots having a cry.

No, it was a bunch of rich idiots having a cry… back in January 2007.

For the record.. I have lived directly across the road to the hospital for 10 years now and I don’t even realise it. I have also lived directly under the flight path in Jerrabomberra with Jets flying over every day and not noticing it. These people need to grow up and get over it. If it is that bad, then move. The helicopter pad is at a hospital for a reason – they are severely ill and need to get there asap. Trying to move the helipad is the stupidest thing anyone could ever say. If you don’t like it then move. Its just a bunch of rich idiots having a cry.

Funny how on this site people like to whinge a lot (about the govt in particular).

Yet anyone who whinges about a govt issue that relates only to a suburb or tweo gets crucified.

There is some subtext here that noone has noticed:
– govt have broken promises
– govt have been impossible to liaise with
– govt have failed to respond to letters
None of this is ideal from our elected representatives.

Scruby has a membership base. And he invites you to join, so he weeds out the undesirables. I guess something like GRA does.

Or is it another one man operation, like Harold Scruby and his ridiculous Pedestrian ‘Council’?

Ian Warden in todays Canberra Times as a resident of Garran, blasts the Garran Resdidents Assciation. He holds no punches.

So Chris are you going to answer how many members you have on your books? As an association you surely you are incorporated and thus have an elected committee and if so who are they?

We have truckloads of wattlebirds too – what is with that?

Fracking (bad word) wattle birds are infesting Canberra.

Where is my gun?

Chris S – I think you have been shot down on a number of different levels. Get back in your box, you whinge more than my 3 1/2 month old baby.

Could we change the helicopter to gliders instead….:D

Or maybe even send patients skydiving down to the hospital…that way they can at least enjoy something before going into the place? Although Chris S may complain the the screams of adrenalin were too loud and very disruptive.

I bet the day they need to be rescued they wont be whinging!
People like them are a waste of space!

The glide approach is because it requires less power and is thus safer…..and more fuel efficient. As the helicopter moves forward, it generates more lift…..Also makes the ride much smotther for patients and crew……Again, once a week in the unsociable hours….

When they planned where to put the helipad I’m pretty sure they didn’t say “Lets put it in the place that creates the most noise and disturbs as many people as possible” They obviously would have placed it in a spot where the helicopters can be used to their full advantage and to save as many lives as possible.

For someone to stand there and say that the noise is a disturbance and should be moved is a little ignorant, dont you think? Helicopters make noise. Helicopters can also save lives. What is a little noise compared to saving someones life.

maybe is all a case of misdirection…

maybe mulchay is personally impacted by the choppers in his nearby O’Malley mansion and latched onto this minor quiblle for his own potential benefit

You can try and justify it with 17 paragraph posts all you like, Chris S, but it’s still nothing but whinging.

I lived in a place that was within the 5 closest houses to the helipad – the noise isn’t that bad.

Let’s try again – I’ll try not to use more than two syllables for terubo’s sake.

Your PR skills leave something to be desired. Is it any wonder you have not progressed far with the powers-that-be.

Whilst not being a pilot, I would hazard a guess that the reason for the helicopter making a gradual descent/approach into WVH at night has something to do with it being very easy to become disorientated while landing in an area surrounded by bright lighting (e.g. streetlights, building lighting, floodlighting, etc) because of the lack of vertical depth perception that this may cause; so a slow and gradual approach is much safer for all involved.

Also, if the helicopter was to make a high approach over the hospital, followed by a hover and vertical descent onto the pad, the noise created during this profile would be much greater than that experienced during the current approach profile.

This Chris S is a PR disaster for whatever message the various community/resident associations want to put across. The basic information he is giving is fair enough – it obviously represents the argument of some people – but to preface and intersperse his postings with angry insults and cheap jibes has completely negated the argument! Chris S’ manner is bound to alienate anyone who might have been interested in hearing a considered version of the story. Go back to study PR101, clown!

This really is a silly thread.

Lets go ask the Piallago residents association about their thoughts on aircraft noise shall we ?

I find it utterly inconceivable that the helicopter pilots are out joyriding – their function and purpose is ever more popular and called upon as the alternative skill level (aka social survival) lowers in the populace.

Of course the helicopter needs to get to the hospital, what’s next – critisising the appropriateness of the location of the hospital ?

I’d like to see the whinging if it were proposed that all hospital services were moved northside.

The helicopter pad is also a strategic tactical placement – the location is also avaliable for other things such as waterbomber refuelling/resupply point, as well as being tactically in proximity to the airport – without being in any flightpaths etc etc.

Moving the helicopter pad would disable more things than is apparent at first glance.

Do a Google on Chris Shelling and Garran folks. He is the GCA. Care to state how many paid-up members there are Chris?

Hmm politicians are elected to govern right ? (not saying we always agree on their decisions) yet every freaking time there is a change, some community group has to have an input.

Why bother electing officials to do a job when you want a community consultation process on everything ?

“The issues are to do with internal infrastructure on the hospital site, an alternative location that would reduce adverse affects on residents…” – So now you want the hospital to spend money to restructure their internal layout so that the helipad site can moved to a more convenient GCA location ???

Vic Bitterman11:18 am 23 Jan 07

Oh Chris S, your ‘superior than thou’ attitude really makes me laugh.

As the great Daryl Kerrigan said : “Suffer in ya jocks!”.

There you go again, Chris S, you just don’t learn do you?
Are you the chosen representative of the Garran Community Association, or are you self-appointed? I presume the latter, for no-one in their right mind would appoint a rude, insulting and aggressive halfwit to represent them in the way that you do on a public forum.
I sincerely hope that the Community Association moves quickly to distance themselves from you – for you are doing more to bring about ridicule on this matter than any number of RiotActors who have not “endeavoured to engage in any reasoned, logical and intelligent debate”.
For the sake of any Garran-ites who have a desire to engage in civilised and constructive lobbying, for Pete’s sake get out of their hair and let them find a lobbyist who actually knows how to deal with matters such as this.

Also, while not a pilot, it seems unlikely the pilots are deliberately choosing the take the noisiest approach paths. (not that the Garran Residents Association wouldn’t richly deserve it if they did IMHO)

More likely they’re taking the fastest/safest/cheapest approach.

Hmm, is it just maybe possible that the hospital and southcare consider the current solution to be the best one for patient care?

Maybe Southcare should replace the Bell 412 with an Army Iroquois for a month, then the Garran whingers would really know how noisy a helicopter can be when they can hear (and feel) the whokka, whokka, whokka from 20km away!

It’s pretty obvious that many RA posters have not read the articles, have not applied any logical reasoning or analysis, or endeavoured to engage in any reasoned, logical and intelligent debate.

Let’s try again – I’ll try not to use more than two syllables for terubo’s sake.

It’s all to do with the location of the helipad, not the service(s) that operate from there. Many of you will remember Can-do Kate (or Kalamity Kate), she who blew up Royal Canberra. At the time she decreed that the old WVH would become the principal hospital; she also decreed that the helipad would be located on top of a two-storey car park.

Affected residents have been trying for many years to see if the Hospital could find an alternative spot, and during recent discussions about pay parking, the Hospital advised that two alternatives were being looked at. One was on the roof of the Hospital (which they didn’t like for several reasons including the possibility of Avgas fumes getting into the aircon), and a smaller car park which could be rationalised, and the existing pad could be returned to car parking. One of the benefits of that option was that a small, awkward car park away from residences could be better utilised, and there would probably be a net gain in car park spaces, for little cost.

The Hospital promised that there would be resident input through a Master Planning process (these are always publicly notified so that all Canberrans are invited to provide submissions), which would be looking at a number of issues with the entire site.

What has happened is that Katy Gallagher, contrary to the promises made for consultation, has made a unilateral decision, with no consultation whatsoever as agreed and with no reasons given, to keep the pad where it is.

In November 2005, a number of community groups jointly wrote to Stanhope, saying in part:

“We are supportive of reviewing the location of the current helipad with a view to possibly moving it to the small car park area near the main entrance on Yamba Drive and closer to the Emergency Department. We understand that the current location of the helipad necessitates a rather long and rough ride for patients to get to the Emergency Department.

“The Garran Community Association has previously asked for representation on the Board, a request summarily dismissed by both Brendan Smyth, MLA when Urban Services Minister, and more recently by Planning Minister Simon Corbell. Representation would enable us to have influence over the manner in which the service operates (flight paths, glide paths, cool down and warm up times, nature of operations, etc).”

Of course, the response was just a brush-off, as it had been by Brendan Smyth in 2001 and more recently Corbell, culminating in this latest announcement by Katie Gallagher.

Just to give a little more background, the GCA invited Southcare to a meeting to discuss issues, where the invitation stated:

“The Garran Community Association cordially invites a representative from Southcare to come along to our next regular meeting, on 12 October, to address Garran residents on issues that are of mutual interest and concern, regarding the operations of the Southcare helicopter.

“Although these matters may appear to be just “whinges”, this Association believes that there is value in opening up channels of communication so that potential options may be explored. Residents accept that the Southcare service is here to stay, and that to some extent at least, must suffer the inconvenience and disturbance that it causes. Indeed, many of us realise that it may be our families that one day need the service. I personally have two sons, who are involved in adventurous activities such as Scouts, Duke of Edinburgh scheme, etc. I would like to know that an unfettered rescue service is going to continue to remain in service.”

Southcare declined to meet with residents, and has told us officially that it has a policy of not entering into any debates about its service, except to correct errors of fact.

This debate therefore has nothing to do with the existance of the Southcare rescue service, although the underlying issue of choppers (Southcare and other operators) failing to comply with agreed operational protocols to do with flightpaths, glidepaths, warmup, cooldown, points at which powere is applied (which leads to more noise), and a host of other things such as turning points etc, have been referred to. I think there are some pilots who are RA contributors, who would be able to explain why choppers don’t need to use glidepaths that are more suitable to fixed-wing aircraft, but for some reason chopper pilots prefer gliding over rooftops than to using steeper descents and ascends to reduce noise footprints (despite agreements that resident disruption will be minimised).

The issues are to do with internal infrastructure on the hospital site, an alternative location that would reduce adverse affects on residents, a lack of engagement with people adversely affected by these government decisions, and yet another broken promise by the Stanhope government. It has nothing whatsoever to do with whether there should be a rescue service or not – there is not a single resident that I’ve spoken to who is at all concerned about the existance of the service, only the location of the helipad, and the way that ALL choppers use the pad.

The vitriol and spite that has come from some on RA when they mis-interpret (deliberately in some cases, I’m sure) what the primary issues are shows what an intelligence vacuum there sometimes is on this site.

LOL @ sammy’s windfarm idea. i love windfarms – well i love hearing NIMBYs bleat about them.

for those interested in reality, the helicopter does approximately 300 missions each year. In the last 12 months, about 50 of those were between 11pm and 6am. Once a week!
They do not do “routine” transfers from Yass and Cooma, they come by road. The rare transfers from those towns are of critically ill patients where it is much safer to keep them in the hospital until arrival of a high level team, than try and move them with local ambulances and GP’s.
In many cities the helicopter is based at the hospital, whereas in Canberra the base was put at Hume specifically to minimise resident disruption!! It does make life harder for the doctors and paramedics that work on SouthCare but that is accepted.
Can only speak for Southcare but flight paths and start up, cool-down protocols are rigidly followed except in unusual weather or the most critical patients.
Must remind people that the so-called patient “transfers” are all critically ill patients that are “too sick” to come by road…they are in general sicker than the “primary rescue” missions.

Plus, it’d give the helicopter pilots added training, as they attempt to navigate the rotating blades of death.

In johnboy’s guide to singleton survival, we were educated that the best way to generate white noise, and drown out other noise, is with a fan. So, I propose they build a wind-farm in Sabine Close Garran. Two birds, one stone.

captainwhorebags8:02 am 23 Jan 07

The helicopter noise may be briefly annoying, and I’m sure that the helipad could be moved somewhere else on the grounds to minimise noise to residents without impacting on service to users of the service.

However I’d say it would be an expensive undertaking and I’m sure the already stretched health budget could better use that money on beds, staff and supplies.

[i]Damn helicopters saving peoples lives. I live far away from the hospital although I was driving past there one day when the chopper was landing and it was loud enough to break my concentration as I was listening to a Mozart piece.

While we are at it ban the sirens on Police, Ambulance, and Fire Brigade, interupting my slumbers in the night and having me give way to them while I’m driving on my roads. – Special G [/i]

I know, isn’t it just a pain. Heaven forbid I have to drive along roads and hear sirens, let alone those lights that really annoy me.

But seriously, once every so often I hear it go over my head (usually to Gininderra Falls I gather), And I love it, I usually go outside just to have a look at it. Doesn’t phase me a bit.

While we are complaining about noise, any chance of getting those aircrafts to stop flying over my head….:P

Vic Bitterman11:19 pm 22 Jan 07

Best that the helicopter noise whingers join force with the Summernats noise whingers.

They can combine forces to be Canberra’s mega nimby noise whinging group.

And the rest of us can laugh *at* them.

Oh Mr Mulcahy must have had a slow news day:

tinyurl.com/2aavwr

Look at the date.

Also it is interesting to see who is on the Garran Residents Association, Garran Community Association, Garran Neighbourhood Watch.

Damn helicopters saving peoples lives. I live far away from the hospital although I was driving past there one day when the chopper was landing and it was loud enough to break my concentration as I was listening to a Mozart piece.

While we are at it ban the sirens on Police, Ambulance, and Fire Brigade, interupting my slumbers in the night and having me give way to them while I’m driving on my roads.

What a load of bollocks. If you like the serenity that much move to the country.

If there is anyone who wishes to complain about the noise that these choppers are making – may I suggest a service whereby the contracted operator of the helicopters rings the subscriber(s) of said service prior to the helicopters arrival at hospital and advises them to promptly place their head up their arse.

Coy Consultant7:36 pm 22 Jan 07

Aw, you’re all so mean. Chris S has pulled a pollie and he’s feeling ever so proud and simply wants to share his joy.

In two years of living in Garran, I was often wakened by an approaching chopper descending directly over my house at the base of the ridge and, in the process, rattling windows, doors and even threatening the heirloom china teacups.

I never minded one bit. It’s all glass half full/glass half empty stuff. One can either infuse oneself with self-righteous smugness about one’s tolerance of emergency services aiding those in need, or one can steep oneself in self-righteous outrage at the interruption to one’s slumbers. I think I know which option the angels and cardiovacular surgeons favour.

Thanks to RA, I now realise that my pleasure in living in Garran was enhanced by complete obliviousness to the existence of Chris S and his Garran Vigilante Association. All hail RA !

maybe they can build a dragway on sabine road – i mean if teh residents are already used to noise…

The GRA is a subset of the Woden Valley Cmmunity Council, including the same players. The Woden Community council attracts a handful of non members to its monthly meetings and the members seem to number in the low teens if that. Most community concil types are whingers who like to bask in the Chroncile lime-light.

But back to the topic. When I was a lad I used to live under the flight path of a news helicopter that would fly over at 50m and land about 500m away. At first it was a thrilling attraction and I would rush outdoors like a boy watching the train go by. then it lost its lustre and I go “ho hum” and ignore the minute or two of noise. The whinger next door who would whinge about all and sundry, off course would be writing letters to the minister every time the copter went over.

So Chris, I would sugget that your mob get over it because you will not get any sympathy for your stance from the wider community.

Don’t they drag race helicopters out of WVH?

The noise isn’t that bad.

You hear it for maybe 2 minutes, tops.

If that has such a devestating impact on your life you should seek help, you selfish, whinging twats.

I’d also like to nominate the following for pool-room status:

More to the point, is there an alternative site we can recommend for the intemperate and noisy Chris S, to reduce the impact of his rude, arrogant, irascible and downright puerile brayings on RA? Piss off, you boorish and ill-mannered wanker.

Post of the day.

I live in Weston… I’ve never heard it.

Someone should send a book to all Garran residences named ‘How to build a bridge’ then maybe they’ll get over it.

I used to live in Sabine Close, as mentioned by Vic Cameron. Yes, it was noisy, but it wasn’t a regular event, and it rarely broke my sleep.

cripes! I might have given penny-pinching Katy and Jon a tip for revenue-raising. Firstly sky-high priced pay-parking… now joyflights…

God knows I hate a NIMBY, and Canberra has a plentiful supply, but…

I can see the residents’ point-of-view *IF* what they are saying is they have tried to work with those responsible for the service to seek improvements to their benefit, at no or little inconvenience to the service. As people affected by the sercvice, they should be at least heard, and if they can provide input that will make their lives a little less unpleasant, without impacting the service – that is just democracy isn’t it?

I lived for a short time in Garran – very close to the shops, and hardly noticed the service – no louder than heavy traffic. Besides, they are not operating ‘joyflights’ now, are they!

Actually, I now live in Weston and I’m sick of the Southcare helicopter flying over my place on it’s way out west to pick someone up: can’t they stop flying west of the ACT.

I’m happy if they go north, east or south but not west, because it affects me personally! 🙂

You got to question timings, patient comfort and costs.

I’ll take the 30 minute helicopter flight over a 3 hour ambulance road trip.

And just to put this in context, less than half the flights are actually “rescues” – the remainder are patient transfers. No doubt most are of high priority, but these are the transfers that used to take place from Yass, Cooma etc by ambulance. Think about the sequence of events – by ambulance, the patient goes from door to door. By chopper, they need to be ambulanced to the helipad, at about the time the chopper has been scrambled from Hume, then flown to Canberra, and then wheeled or ambulanced in to the Hospital proper. You got to question timings, patient comfort and costs.

My father was one of these patient transfers. He was critically ill and the helicopter was used to transfer him to a major hospital because it minimized the time he was away from ‘hospital care’ – 30 minutes in the helicopter compared to 3 hours in the ambulance. Helicopter transfers are not cheap and the decision to use it is not taken lightly.

“The Minister for Health, Ms Katy Gallagher MLA, has advised me that there is no possible alternative site for the helipad to reduce the impact of the helicopter’s noise despite earlier advice that plans were being developed to move the helipad to the front of the hospital”.
– More to the point, is there an alternative site we can recommend for the intemperate and noisy Chris S, to reduce the impact of his rude, arrogant, irascible and downright puerile brayings on RA? Piss off, you boorish and ill-mannered wanker.

aternity. The vast majority of patients who arrive to Canberra Hospital go to one of those sections.

Chris did you move to the area before or after the helipad was built there? If before then maybe you have some legitimate concerns but if after, then I have little sympathy for you or other residents, it is your own responsibility to research an area (it’s ups and downs) before you move in or buy there.

Do any of us know how often the Helipad is used? It has been a while since I lived in Garran, but don’t recall hearing a continuous stream of helicopers buzzbombing WVH [I agree the Canberra Hospital is a crap name].

Given all the hoohaa about our health system, it’s bypass stats and need for more beds, I can’t imagine the helipad is used too often, but may be ill-informed.

Stats?

I reckon it’d be cheaper and easier to buy earplugs for the very few noise whingers who don’t have hearing aids.

Then turn down the aids in the rest of the selfish elderly and the whole of the community would have a much better time.

We’re talking here about a helicopter rushing badly hurt people to hospital.

Noise complaints about that make me sick.

I wouldn’t want to be woken by helicopters every night.

Unfortunately on this website any issue that affects only a few suburbs is an instant opportunity to bellyache about nimbys. And in fact no amount of noise seems to be too much.

Sadly the ACT govt are also uninterested in issues affecting only one or two suburbs.

barking toad2:22 pm 22 Jan 07

Next these precious petals will be bleating about the noise of sirens from ambulances dashing to the hospital.

Just move Chris

Out of interest what % of garran residents voted at the residents association’s last AGM?

Just a couple of quick followups – JB, as you’ve rightly said, any move of the helipad will advantage some people, but will disadvantage others (a point made to the CT reporter but not included). There were several options available to the Hospital (all of which have apparently been discarded, without consultation with Garran and Woden residents, contrary to promises made). These alternatives would have reduced the overall impact, and rather than having houses just across the road, the nearest ones would have been about 500m away.

The approach of Garran residents to the helipad issue since I’ve been involved has always been one of trying to reduce the impact, by way of trying to get the authorities to talk to us. They have simply refused to do so. We’ve asked two ministers, Smyth and Corbell, for representation on the Southcare Board, both rejected; we’ve tried talking to the Hospital, who have promised us the opportunity to comment on various proposals, but as can be seen with this latest decision, these are all made in isolation of affected residents.

Bear in mind that not all residents are adversely affected, and some of those that are are quite happy with the situation. Also bear in mind that the most vociferous opposition has in fact included people from other suburbs including Isaacs and Hughes – this is a Woden matter, not just Garran. Garran Neighbourhood Watch has consistently supported the service, as has Garran Scouts, both organisations that I’ve been involved with longer that I have been with the Garran Community Association.

Sammy, no that’s not the way it happened.

To use a cliche, all anyone wants is a fair go, which is some consultation, and an opportunity to influence activities that have an adverse affect on them.

Absent Diane2:04 pm 22 Jan 07

I would love to have a helipad near where I live… love seeing jets and helicopters and cool things..I am also a light sleeper so chances are that i would already be awake.

unquestioning Riotacters shows just how easy it is for a person or an organisation to carry on in an inappropriate manner

Yeah, like the AHA.

Chris S: No-one is saying there shouldn’t be such a service, as RA people immediately leap into assuming without reading the article and applying just an iota of analysis and intelligence.

The entire premise of the release appears to be that the majority of Garran residents dislike the noise created by helicopter services.

Years ago, when I lived one street across from Sabine Close in Hopegood Place, I was approached by the Garran Residents Association to sign a petition to restrict the helicopter activities at the hospital.

Presumably the GRA didn’t get very far with this petition, so they’ve suckered Mulcahy into jumping on the bandwagon.

The opening line of Mulcahy’s media release:

There is no relief in sight for Garran residents whose amenity is disturbed by the helicopters according to Member for Molonglo, Mr Richard Mulcahy MLA

If we’ve all misinterpreted Mulcahy’s media release, then perhaps it is time to think about a better staff writer, rather than assume that everyone who reads the releases are ‘ignoramuses’.

is there a better location for a helipad used by rescue helicopters than right next to a hospital?
chris s, i hope you don’t require the services of the big noisy helichopper sometime, you may have to take your lips off a liberal member.
and don’t call me ignorant.

If you ignorant lot actually read the article, you would see that the issue is not with the Southcare service – it is the location of the helipad, and the way in which the all the chopper services operate into and out of the helipad (not just Southcare).

No-one is saying there shouldn’t be such a service, as RA people immediately leap into assuming without reading the article and applying just an iota of analysis and intelligence.

For those who said “that’s what you get when you live near a hospital”, just remember that this helipad was located with no reference to residents after Royal Canberra was demolished, and they decided to upgrade Woden Valley Hospital to the primary one.

There are a number of homes that cop a really big serve of noise, such as those in Sabine Close. That’s a little ways off, but these houses are elevated and are right under one of the primary flight paths.

And just to put this in context, less than half the flights are actually “rescues” – the remainder are patient transfers. No doubt most are of high priority, but these are the transfers that used to take place from Yass, Cooma etc by ambulance. Think about the sequence of events – by ambulance, the patient goes from door to door. By chopper, they need to be ambulanced to the helipad, at about the time the chopper has been scrambled from Hume, then flown to Canberra, and then wheeled or ambulanced in to the Hospital proper. You got to question timings, patient comfort and costs.

What residents are saying is that there must be a better location for the heleipad, there needs to be more accountability for flightpaths, etc.

With respect to flight protocols, there are supposed to be height, flightpath, war-up and cool-down procedures in place. It doesn’t happen as it’s supposed to and there is no accountability. As a matter of interest, the worst offenders are the out-of-town services such as Careflight and others.

So ignoramuses, get off your high horses about Garran residents not wanting the service, read the article, and you’ll see the issues are not about whether or not Southcare should be flying. They’re about the location of the pad, and lack of accountability on how it operates (the helipad).

You know, one of the biggest problems in community relations is when there are perceived problems with valued community services – note the recent issues with Scouts ACT. A halo effect is created, which masks any opportunity for considered scrutiny of organisations – some of you may be able to remember back to the 1980s and a fellow called John Friedrich who operated the National Safety Council out of Victoria. This organisation was supposedly doing such good stuff that no-one questioned anything this bloke did – he in fact embezzled over $200m – no-one asked the difficult questions because of this halo effect. Nothing like that is happening here, but the response from stupid, unquestioning Riotacters shows just how easy it is for a person or an organisation to carry on in an inappropriate manner, with anyone daring to raise any issues being howled down by the RA pack mentality.

Agree! Used to live a couple hundred metres up the road and heard it fly over regularly. The worst thing about it was the thought of the seriously injured/crook person that needed this vital service.
Now live slightly more south and still hear it go over and still feel sorry/empathy for the person they are saving.

I’m about 100m from the landing pad too. May I point out that this whinger definitely does not represent the consensus view of Garran residents. In my experience, nobody mentions it in conversation, and the only time we really noticed it was when we moved in eight years ago.

Don’t let this sanctimonious wanker give Garranites a bad name. I’m happy for anyone who doesn’t like it, to move somewhere more exclusive if they’re too precious to enjoy the benefits of living so close to Canberra’s major hospital… if you’ll excuse me i’m going to walk across the oval to visit my ill grandfather.

After spending a bunch of time in chaseling street phillip, (just the other side of the oval) I can also say the noise has little impact, and the choppers fly close enough overhead so that you could tell if a pilot needed a shave.

Boo freakin hoo..

I live not too far away at the moment, and used to live about 100 metres away from the landing pad, and I was never bothered by the noise (I thought it was kinda cool, actually.) Perhaps the solution would be to move the entire suburb of Garran to Tuggeranong, just by Tharwa perhaps?

I lived in Garran (until last December) for 2 years. I was about a block behind the Canberra Hospital (1 street back from Palmer Street). I don’t remember every being bothered by the helicopter. In fact, on the occasions I did hear it, I tended to think “Hope that poor person in the chopper is OK,” and not, “Oh! My shuddering topiaries!” Some very serious head-pulling-in is required here.

I lived right next to the helicopter landing area at the hospital for many years, and knowing what a great service it provides I learned to live with the noise.

A family friends life was saved by Southcare. Vital signs were non-existent when picked up by the helicopter in the deep dark depths of the Brindabella ranges, and without the helicopter they would certainly not have been resurrected.

Bunch of sooks – don’t live near a hospital then – morons.

They can always sell if they’re not happy where they live.

you live in a city you get noise. nimby tossers.

For the record, if they move the helicopter landings somewhere else (like the airport??), and i die on the way to the hospital as a result, then i’m coming back to haunt these NIMBYs.

And by haunt i don’t mean Casper the ghost, but more of the Amittyvile/evil Poltergeist type. 😛

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