Fraser Coast Regional Council has waived $18,595 in landing fees for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) (RFDS) over the past financial year, continuing its long-running support to ensure every Queenslander remains within reach of care, no matter where they live.
Across Hervey Bay and Maryborough Airport last financial year, RFDS aircraft made 959 landings, transporting 1,158 patients in the area.
Fraser Coast Regional Council Mayor George Seymour said the region is one of the busiest in Queensland for RFDS transfers.
“There are very few people in our region who haven’t been touched in some way by the work the RFDS does,” Mayor Seymour said.
“Where someone lives should not dictate the care they receive, and by waiving landing fees at Hervey Bay and Maryborough airports, Council is helping the RFDS direct more of every dollar towards providing care to people who need it.
“Last financial year we also locked in a new three-year partnership agreement with the RFDS, which includes $30,000 in annual sponsorship on top of the fee waivers–a reflection of just how committed Council is to supporting this service for the long term.”
Since the partnership began in 2019, Council's support for the RFDS—through waived fees and sponsorship combined—has now reached $386,814.
RFDS (Queensland Section) CEO Meredith Staib said that the support from councils like Fraser Coast is crucial for us delivering care to Queenslanders, no matter the distance.
“Fraser Coast Regional Council has been a genuine partner to the RFDS since 2019, and the new three-year agreement helps us plan ahead as demand for our services continues to grow across the region,” Ms Staib said.
“Support like this means we can keep pace with growing demand without it coming at the expense of patient care.
“We are enormously grateful to Council, and to the community it represents, for this ongoing generosity.”
