Cheviot has a new emergency facility – a weatherproof helipad to improve patient transport during medical situations.
The helipad’s official opening took place last Friday, at the town’s rugby grounds inside Miller Street Reserve. The 12m² concrete landing pad stands 800mm high (with 300mm above ground) and is built to ensure helicopters can land safely even in challenging conditions.
The project, spearheaded by the Cheviot Lions Club, came to life after the Cheviot Volunteer Fire Brigade proposed the idea. The Lions Club took the lead on fundraising, and a Helipad Committee was formed. When MainPower heard about the community’s fundraising efforts, we were delighted to contribute financially, helping the group reach its $100,000 goal.
The project saw locals’ band together, generously donating money, materials, skills, and time to bring the helipad to life. Fire Brigade members oversaw the construction, ensuring everything was in place for the facility’s eventual use. Before the helipad, the Cheviot Volunteer Fire Brigade were called out to assist night-time helicopter landings. Now, pilots can activate the landing lights from their helicopters, streamlining the entire process.
The new helipad has already proven its worth. It was commissioned for use in June and was utilised the very next day. In the months since, it has been called into service five more times. The Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust, which has conducted more than 125 missions in the North Canterbury region over the past 12 months, now has a safer, more reliable place to land when emergencies arise in Cheviot.
This community-driven project stands as a testament to the power of local collaboration, with lasting benefits for emergency response in the region. MainPower is very proud to have supported this fantastic community facility.
