A true community rescue effort

There’s a new feature at Hanmer Springs domain, driven by the community to serve the community.

A helipad has been built, with the grand opening taking place at the Hamer Springs Sports domain on Saturday, one of the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust’s new H145 rescue helicopters attending.

It’s been in the making for 12 months, initiated by the Hanmer Springs Community Trust. A submission was made to the Hanmer Springs Community Board in October 2025, and fundraising went into full force shortly afterwards.

Chairperson of Hanmer Springs Community Trust Shelley McCully said with the approximate thousand people who call Hanmer Springs home, and the 700,000-plus visitors per year, the benefit this helipad will bring to the community is huge.

She added that the fundraising efforts have been extremely well supported by both the community and Canterbury West Coast Air Resue Trust, which owns the rescue helicopters.

“This helipad is mutually beneficial to the community and the Canterbury Westpac Rescue Helicopter service,” said McCully.

The main benefit will be the concrete path that links the Hanmer Springs Health Centre to the helipad via the netball courts at the domain, providing a faster more efficient transfer of patients to the awaiting helicopter.

“It gets patients who are seriously unwell to specialist care faster.”

The new helipad was first used earlier this month to transport a man from Hanmer Springs Medical Centre, who’d suffered an agricultural accident resulting in a suspected spinal injury.

The stretcher was wheeled from the helicopter down the new path straight to the patient, meaning the transition was seamless.

Until now, helicopters have landed at the Domain and an ambulance has collected the patient from the Medical Centre, where they have been transported to the awaiting helicopter.

McCully explained that if an ambulance was not available the patient would be wheeled along the footpath and over the grass to the helicopter, which could be a bumpy ride.

“This new process is a lot quicker, more efficient and less traumatic for the patient.”

The new helipad will improve access for emergency rescue helicopters and forms part of a wider network of emergency infrastructure being developed across the region.

With close to $70,000 raised by volunteers, community groups, businesses and community fundraisers like the Night For Flight fundraiser by the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa last November, the support for this project has been outstanding, demonstrating what can be achieved when a community comes together for a shared goal.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed to the project.”

The helipad’s specialist lighting system cost approximately $46,000 and was donated by Canterbury West Coast Air Resue Trust.

McCully explained that as the helicopter pilot comes into land the pilot can switch the lights on from inside the machine, a great improvement from the old system when members of the local volunteer Fire Brigade were called out at night to create a lit landing zone.

Mayor Marie Black has kept an eye on this community project from its inception, a project all about investing in the safety, resilience and wellbeing of the community.

“It’s about giving people the best possible chance when every second counts,” said Mayor Black.

Also very aware of the uniqueness of Hanmer Springs’ location and the attraction it holds for both domestic and international visitors, Mayor Black added that this new emergency facility holds one purpose - to ensure critically ill or injured people receive the care they need as quickly and safely as possible.

“I commend the community for its determination to achieve this wonderful result.”