THE helipad at Portland hospital is unlikely to be used again, with Ambulance Victoria confirming an alternative site is being investigated.

That news comes as the Observer can reveal why the helipad was actually closed in December.

So far the official line has been that a review late last year found that improvements were required in line with national Civil Aviation Safety Authority regulations, but that was thrown into doubt after State Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell wrote to the federal agency asking for clarification.

She received a reply back from CASA chief executive Pip Spence saying “there were no changes to regulations that required the closure of the helipad”.

“Helicopter landing sites located off a certified aerodrome (a regulated airport) are not regulated under aviation safety regulations,” Ms Spence wrote.

“CASA provides guidance for planning, designing and operating helipads like the one at Portland hospital, but there are no legislative requirements to monitor or oversee their operation.”

While there were rules that set out requirements for pilots and operators relating to helicopter landing sites Ambulance Victoria had told CASA those rules “did not influence their decision to suspend operations”.

“In this instance we understand that the helicopter operator has chosen to stop operating at the Portland District Health helipad due to the risk of downwash injuring people nearby,” Ms Spence wrote.

“While we understand the decision to suspend operations was unrelated to any changes in CASA regulations, we support operators making risk-based decisions.”

In light of the letter, the Observer asked Ambulance Victoria to clarify why the decision was made, what the risk was and why the CASA regulations were used as a justification when it did not appear to be the case.

A spokeswoman confirmed downwash was the reason for the closure, with the risks relating to the closeness of pedestrians, road traffic and hospital infrastructure to aircraft operations.

However she maintained the line that the closure was due to the review finding significant safety improvements were required in line with current CASA regulations, in relation to the fact that helicopters had changed over time.

The closure had not impacted patient care – at present Portland Airport has been the main alternative landing site.

But it does not look like the helipad will be re-opened for use.

Ambulance Victoria acting air operations manager Rupert Freeman said “significant progress has been made to secure an alternative air ambulance landing site for the Portland community”.

“Ambulance Victoria is working closely with Portland District Health and the Glenelg (Shire) Council, with a new landing site to be confirmed in the coming months,” he said.

The helipad issue has been aired in both state and federal parliaments since the Observer reported in February details of the closure.

Last week Ms Britnell called on the Ambulance Services Minister Gabrielle Williams to provide a detailed explanation on why the helipad was closed and for the risk analysis documents to be available for public scrutiny.

Yesterday she said Ms Williams “cannot think outside the square”.

“If helicopters landing on the Portland hospital helipad raises safety concerns, a pragmatic and outcome focused Minister should look for a solution, not just ban the helicopters.

“The Cairns Hospital (in Queensland) has a helipad very similar to Portland’s. In Cairns, they have a fence. Why can’t Portland have a fence?

“The solution is there for the Minister for Ambulance Services, all she needs to do is venture over the West Gate Bridge, visit Portland and see how easily she can resolve this issue.”

Federal Member for Wannon Dan Tehan also raised the issue in the federal parliament in March, asking what the Commonwealth government was doing in light of the decision.

The helipad was opened in 2015 after many years of community campaigning and fundraising.

In conjunction with the Blue Ribbon Foundation, it was dedicated as a permanent police memorial in memory of Senior Constable Mark Bateman who died with his partner Senior Constable Fiona Robinson in 2000 when their divisional van was involved in a crash in Northcote in Melbourne.