A woman survives terrifying fall in Watagan Mountains.

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

A woman has survived a terrifying fall in the Watagan Mountains over the weekend.

There were reports the woman had been rock climbing when she fell but it's now understood the 46-year-old had been camping in the area and was walking through the bush when she slipped and fell 10 metres suffering serious injuries.

She was stabilised at the scene by paramedics before she was carried out by the Police Rescue Squad to a waiting 4-wheel drive ambulance before she was airlifted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in a serious but stable condition to the John Hunter Hospital.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter on the scene.

Rescue Helicopter officially says hello to Belmont

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter's new home at Belmont was officially opened this morning by NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan.

The base is worth $5.5 million and enables the NSW Ambulance and Hunter New England Health medical team to deliver faster and go further across regional, rural and remote NSW communities.

The opening of the Belmont base is part of the $151.2 million state-wide Helicopter Retrieval Network which is the single biggest NSW Government investment in aeromedical services in the state's history.

"This is a $5.5 million base and that's not even counting the aircraft which is here to support it so when you look at it $2.2 million was directly out of Restart Hunter and it was a great leg up to the partnership and it's allowed us to deliver a great base to the community," said Commissioner Dominic Morgan.

It's one of the first new NSW Ambulance & Westpac Rescue Helicopters in the state funded in part by the NSW Government.

Helicopter Paramedic Adam Butt couldn't more happy to work at what is a world class base.

"The last base that we worked at Broadmeadow, it started off as a very small base and it grew and we just kind of tacked on little bits as we got more funding and this base is purposefully designed for our workflow from us getting the job, getting into the operations plan, getting into the aircraft, starting the aircraft and getting underway," he said.

It's been in the making for many years, and is sure to be in service for many to come.

"If you're a doctor or a nurse or a pilot or a crewman and you got to work from this base, you were thinking you were working in the best possible place in your career so many of the staff that have joined with us now as part of the partnership have come from other organisations and couldn't be happier with the aircraft they get to fly on," said Commissioner Dominic Morgan.

Helipad Proposal on Lake Macqaurie

Source: Lakes Mail

BY KIMBERLEY NICOLL

A lavish development by Johnson Property Group in Lake Macquarie has upset many locals.

The proposal of a helipad for Trinity Point has residents concerned for the surrounding environment.

Opponents believe the construction will be a nuisance and insulting to those who do not have access.

However, the developers believe a helipad will keep the five-star resort competitive and enticing to the millionaires it is marketed to.

Morisset Park and District Action Group President Tom Dumbrell says the town "...has been a tranquil, peaceful area that's basically been destroyed by the development... and a helicopter pad is just going to make it far worse.".

The helipad will be allowed a maximum of eight movements a day with no use during the night.

JPG recognised there were concerns but they were only sourced from misinformation.

Planning Director Bryan Garland says, "We've done a very technical and detailed noise assessment, and the noise is acceptable by the standards in which governments dictate."

Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper is sceptical there will be any more than 38 movements a week but admits his opposition to the helipad regarding the concern of noise.