GRANT District Council will not donate money towards the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) patient transfer facility despite a request by the aeromedical retrieval service.
While its neighbouring council has pledged $15,000 for the new facility, Grant District elected members voted not to give to the organisation’s fundraising campaign.
Council already supports the flying doctor’s new project by waiving the lease fees, utility costs, rates charges for the hangar at the commercial airfield.
The hangar will be refurbished to house the proposed $500,000 patient transfer facility.
Considered to be the first of its kind in regional South Australia, the flying doctor service is appealing to the community to help with its fundraising efforts.
At this week’s full meeting, elected members flagged council should promote the RFDS’ fundraising campaign but not directly pump ratepayers’ funds into the project.
“We support the RFDS by way of a 21 year lease and waiving the fees associated with that, but there is still merit in supporting the service,” council chief executive officer Darryl Whicker told the chamber.
“We are already partnering with them at the airport, so there is already stuff we are doing, but it is a really, really good cause.
“It is up to council to consider whether they want to do that.”
Cr Brad Mann suggested council could help the organisation by sharing its fundraising campaign details on its website and social media page.
He also mooted the information could be “sent out” in rate notices to thousands of its ratepayers.
Cr Mann said it may be more helpful than council giving money given council already supported the service at the Mount Gambier Regional Airport.
While questions were asked if there was money available in the budget for a donation, others questioned the monetary value of council’s current partnership at the airport.
Chairing the meeting, Mayor Richard Sage asked whether councillors wanted to donate money or “leave it as it is and promote it”.
While Cr Megan Dukalskis supported suggestions the fundraising campaign details could be sent out in rate notices, council staff explained the logistics meant it would not reach every ratepayer until next year.
Council will continue to support the RFDS with in-kind assistance.
Meanwhile, Mount Gambier City Council has pledged $15,000 to help boost the fundraising efforts for the regional facility.
While a recommendation of $10,000 was orginally tabled, Cr Kate Amoroso gained support to add a further $5000.
“I believe they fly in and out of Mount Gambier two times per day and sometimes up to four – I myself have used this service and they are fantastic,” Ms Amoroso said.
