ATHABASCA – A community effort to build a heliport adjacent to the Athabasca Healthcare Centre cleared another administrative hurdle after Alberta Health Services and the Town of Athabasca lent their support to the project.
During the July 16 town council meeting, Rotary Club of Athabasca member Brian Scott got the town’s formal permission to go ahead with the project, which would be located on town land.
“In the past month, that I’m aware of, STARS has been in (the hospital) twice,” said Scott. “If you build it, they will come.”
Alongside Scott’s presentation, the town included the heliport assessment completed by Ron German — the same consultant who recently presented to the Village of Boyle council for its own proposed facility.
German estimated the project would cost between $912,000 and $1.14 million, with local trade costs and tree removal adding some variability to the cost.
Scott — and Mayor Rob Balay — were both adamant the actual cost would be lower than quoted by German, due to the amount of support already secured from local businesses.
“I’m positive we can get it done cheaper than that,” said Scott. “Even if we went commercial and it costs $1.1 million dollars, which it won’t, is one life worth a million dollars? In my book, yes.
“It could be your child, your grandchild, who knows what is coming down the line.”
The proposed site is to the southwest of the hospital, by the tennis court. It meets the standards for an H1 flight path — for helicopters with multiple engines — and could meet higher standards if considerable site preparation and tree removal is conducted, according to German.
The site was the only viable option located on town land — proposed sites to the south and northeast of the hospital were on land owned by AHS — and getting the green light to use the site was the first of many obstacles.
“The town has given us permission to use that site, so that step is out of the way already. If it was the other sites we would need approval from AHS, so that is one hurdle out of the way,” said Scott in a follow-up interview July 24.
Scott needed the letter of approval from the town for a July 17 meeting with AHS, which he said went well. The site hasn’t gotten the complete go ahead from the agency yet, but Scott said the first step had gone well.
What comes next?
According to German’s report, once AHS gives its formal approval, the project can proceed to the formal design phase, which includes a detailed design of the heliport, required features, and a current cost estimate After that, the project would go for tender to a construction company.
Once built, the heliport would be certified by Transport Canada, staff will be trained and proper documentation will be prepared, and STARS will have a new space to land in town.
“It’s all in progress and on the roll,” said Scott. “We’re moving forward with our plans. Is it going to be built this month? Absolutely not.”
Scott estimated the project would take a year or more to complete.
