The proposed site of the Melfort helipad, at the corner of Higgins Ave. W and West St. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW Staff)

By Cam Lee

Heliport Open House

Melfort heliport open house being held this weekend

Dec 9, 2019 | 9:00 AM

An open house will be held later this week to provide more information on the construction of a helipad in Melfort.

The STARS heliport public open house will start at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Kerry Vickar Centre, coinciding with the Melfort Fire Department’s annual Wing Ding.

Director of Development, Planning and Community Relations Brent Lutz said the Municipal Health Advocacy Committee proposed a heliport be built at the Melfort Union Hospital that would allow STARS to land and take off directly from the hospital. The STARS air ambulances currently land at the city’s airport, Miller Field.

“Before the project goes any further the City would like to provide the general public with information concerning the details of what’s being proposed, including the design, costs, and what operating impacts the heliport will have on city residents and maybe people within the neighbourhood surrounding the hospital site,” said Lutz.

There will be a rendering of the finished project at the open house, along with design drawings and some of the initial estimated costs. Representatives will be on hand to discuss the project and answer any questions the public may have about the heliport project.

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Lutz said the information gathered at the open house will also be forwarded to council when they make the decision on the project. The heliport would be located at the corner of Higgins Ave. W. and West St, which is the northeast corner of the hospital lot.

“There’s a large greenspace on that side of the hospital and it’s directly adjacent to the emergency receiving area in the hospital,” said Lutz.

The Municipal Health Advocacy Committee is still working on the estimated cost of the project, and Lutz said that number should be finalized shortly.

“The committee has also been looking for major corporate sponsors to help fund the cost of the project, and [we] anticipate that before the end of the year they will be going out to the public looking for personal donations,” said Lutz.

The expectation is to have the entire project funded through corporate sponsors and public donations, and Lutz said the committee has already received a positive response from corporate sector. The committee hopes to have the funds in place before the project is tendered.

The project is expected to begin in the spring of 2020, with completion before the end of the summer.

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cam.lee@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @camlee1974