Construction starting on Brisbane aeromedical precinct

Brisbane Airport is commencing construction of an aeromedical precinct to serve Queenslanders in regional, rural and remote communities. The state-of-the-art project delivered in partnership with the Queensland government will enhance emergency response capabilities across the State. Located between Brisbane Airport’s parallel runways for quick access, it will be home to aircraft and resources for Royal Flying Doctor Service, LifeFlight, Retrieval Services Queensland and Queensland Police Service Aviation Capability Group. The $217 million aeromedical precinct will have capacity for 26 aircraft and include 18,700 square meters of hangar and headquarters space, along with 17,800 square meters of tarmac parking. The precinct will provide parking for 450 staff. (PHOTO: Brisbane Airport) “There’s nothing like the scale of Brisbane Airport’s Aeromedical Precinct anywhere in the world. This groundbreaking project will significantly enhance the level of care for Queenslanders needing urgent treatment in Brisbane,” according to Brisbane Airport CEO, Gert-Jan de Graaff. In FY24, the Royal Flying Doctor Service flew 4,611 patients to Brisbane Airport. LifeFlight’s Air Ambulance jets airlifted 528 people, and its helicopters helped 552 people. A new patient transfer facility will care for people transitioning between aircraft and road ambulances. “Around 18 patients every day are flown in and out of Brisbane Airport. Those transfers between aircraft and ambulance will now take place inside a patient transfer hub at the core of the Aeromedical Precinct,” de Graaff said. “Currently RFDS, LifeFlight and other emergency agencies are spread across Brisbane Airport, kilometers apart. The Aeromedical Precinct will bring them together in one location, centrally located between our two runways so they can quickly get into the air. Not only will these lifesavers work together, they’ll learn from each other.” The facility will integrate and collate patient aeromedical retrieval and transport, clinical and logistic coordination, including statewide telehealth clinical and education support to rural and remote hospitals. The precinct will also feature hangars for fixed and rotary wing aircraft, administration areas, and a medical base for regional patient and donor transfers. “This is the largest multi-tenanted property built by Brisbane Airport, and we’re delighted its sole purpose is to serve the people of Queensland, in every corner of the state,” de Graaff said. “Brisbane Airport provides a vital 24/7 connection for Queenslanders in regional, country and remote communities who need critical care. We want to commend the Queensland Government for its very strong support of the Aeromedical Precinct.” The development will be targeting 5 Star Green Star accreditation and includes a 400kW solar system. A café will provide staff in this growing precinct of the airport with a convenient place to recharge. ADCO Constructions is aiming for the completion of Aeromedical Precinct in December 2026 with 150 people employed on-site during the construction phase of the project, and more than 400 people working here once it is open.  Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman said: “We rely on aeromedical services to move patients needing care across our vast state, and the Queensland Government is committed to supporting world-class care for all Queenslanders, no matter where they live. The new Aeromedical Hub at Brisbane Airport will transform the aeromedical network, supporting the continued safe, reliable, and efficient systems to deliver timely access to healthcare, especially in rural, remote, and regional areas.” Retrieval Services Queensland A/Executive Director Michael Cussen said: “We know demand for aeromedical services is growing. In the last financial year, on average 60 patients were aeromedically transported every day throughout the state, with around 18 of those patients transferred to and from Brisbane hospitals via Brisbane Airport each day. The Aeromedical Hub will co-locate Queensland Health’s statewide aeromedical services, ensuring a co-ordinated approach to delivering life-saving care. The facility will have a purpose-built patient transfer facility to provide continued care for patients and optimise the efficient use of aeromedical assets by reducing the need to wait for ground transport during patient transfers in Brisbane.” Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) Chief Executive Officer, Meredith Staib said: “The RFDS (Queensland Section) team is excited to see construction begin on the new state-of-the-art Queensland Regional Aeromedical Base. We thank the State Government and our generous supporters for helping bring to life the vision of what will become a crucial patient care facility for many years to come. The RFDS (Queensland Section) transfers around thirteen thousand patients via aeromedical services every year, many of those via our Brisbane Base. We look forward to the opening of the brand-new patient facility in the future which will enable further important collaboration with our partners in care including LifeFlight and Queensland Health.”  LifeFlight Chief Operating Officer Lee Schofield said: “LifeFlight is delighted to join our Queensland aeromedical colleagues at what will become a premier super base to ensure we can collectively help more Queenslanders. LifeFlight proudly calls Brisbane Airport home and from this base we’ve had another bumper 12 months across a range of rescue helicopter missions and international repatriations with our 604 Challenger jet. Thank you to the Queensland Government, Brisbane Airport and our colleagues at Queensland Health – for their continued support.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]