Business
19 December, 2025
Big lift for helipad shift
AN emergency helipad on the roof of Cairns Hospital will enable patients to be transferred into the emergency department during storm surges and floods which inundate the first floor.
Details of the multimillion-dollar helipad atop D block were revealed on Tuesday this week.
Currently emergency helicopters land on a helipad on the Esplanade which involves security staff having to stop people walking or jogging along the waterfront when the aircraft lands and takes-off. It also cannot be used in severe weather.
The special cyclone-rated lift shaft will be built at the front of D block on the Cairns Esplanade and include a bridge to the first floor. It will be designed to protect against storm surges and floodwaters while continuing to operate.
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive officer Leena Singh said it was planned to start in April or May next year for completion by about March-April 2027.
“The design itself is an external lift which will sit on the outside of the building. It will go up to the very top end of D block and then we’ll put the helipad on top of D block,” she said.
“And this lift core is specially-designed. It’s actually cyclone-rated and cyclone-proof. It will also have storm door protection.”
Ms Singh said the lift core would be resilient to severe weather conditions and in addition a link bridge from the first floor will go straight into an inpatient ward in D block.
“In the event the ground floor is actually compromised and we cannot get to it, we can still use the helipad, but bring it in through an in-patient zone,” she said.
Ms Singh said the health service had worked with aviation consultants and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on the design and pilots would continue to use the current landing procedures outside the direct flight path to the airport. The helipad would be designed to carry the heavy weight of the rescue choppers as well as the estimated six tonnes of downdraft – which lead to a woman and a pram being lifted into the air on the Esplanade a few years ago – as well noise suppression measures.
Member for Mulgrave Terry James said the government being able to find the money for a new helicopter base on the roof was “amazing”.
He said the helicopter landing on the Esplanade had been an issue for a long time, particularly after the situation with a lady and her pram.
“And of course, you’ve got issues with a lot of the security guards having to be released from the hospital to spend time over there with the helicopter to make sure everything is safe,” Mr James said.
