Westlock’s hospital is getting a new helipad, and it will not cost the town a dime.
Town councillors were presented with a report from Alberta Health Services about the new helipad at their Sept. 8 meeting.
Part of the report was a request for a letter of non-opposition from the town that would allow AHS to move forward with getting approval from Transport Canada to build the helipad.
Project manager Glenn Litke said the new helipad is needed to support the new AW139 helicopters STARS rolled out last year.
“The old pad that’s there now is no longer large enough or strong enough to carry it,” he said, adding the current helipad is also not certified.
In the report presented to council, two new locations were proposed — one is 84 metres northwest of the current helipad, while the second is 68 metres to the west.
Litke said AHS is planning to go ahead with the second option.
“By moving it just a little bit further to the west, it makes a safer landing spot for the helicopter — there are fewer obstacles to deal with,” he said.
In addition, going with the second option would allow for a potential expansion of the hospital slated for the west side of the building.
The design is currently being finalized and will soon be put out for tender. Once the winning bid has been selected, Litke said he’ll have a better idea when the new helipad will be constructed.
“I’d love to be able to say we’re going to have it for you by Halloween, but the reality is with the weather here in Alberta, we never know,” he said.
Mayor Ralph Leriger said the town’s involvement in the project is extremely limited.
“I think it’s as simple as they want to enhance their current facilities and as such, as the development authority, need the town’s official okie-dokie,” he said.
Town manager Dean Krause echoed Leriger’s comments, while adding the town has some say over the project, but not the ability to veto it altogether.
However, it’s less that the town could forbid AHS from building the helipad, and more that it could raise concerns and work with the province to reach a mutually satisfactory solution.
That said, both potential locations raise no issues with the town, Krause said.
There were some questions raised when the report first hit the town’s desks, however, particularly how the helipad could affect the town’s forthcoming new Land Use Bylaw when it comes to things like building height restrictions.
“If building restrictions are a requirement, we want to address it now,” Krause said. “They reassured us it won’t affect any future development.”
