‘It’s life or death’: Husband’s anger over island’s ambulance dirt track

A Macleay Island man says his wife’s life was put at risk because of a neglected, bumpy track to the island’s only helipad which delayed paramedics. WATCH THE VIDEO

Paramedics load Kaye Scoble into a helicopter on Macleay Island after she had a medical emergency with the ambulance forced to drive along a bumpy dirt track to get to the helipad. Picture: Contributed

A Macleay Island resident has criticised Redland City Council for failing to maintain a crucial ambulance access track, which he claims slowed down an ambulance and delaying urgent medical treatment for his critically-ill wife.

Colin Scoble was outraged after his wife, Kaye, endured a slow, jolting ambulance ride along the island’s 150m overgrown track before being flown for lifesaving treatment.

Paramedics were forced to crawl at 5km/h over the rough terrain to minimise the impact on Mrs Scoble, who was suffering a serious heart condition.

“It was the only way the ambulance could proceed, but the delay could have meant the difference between life and death,” Mr Scoble said.

“This is the only access to the island’s only helipad, and I still can’t believe how my poor wife was jolted around, even though the paramedic was driving at a snail’s pace.

“That delay alone is enough to be fatal in an emergency – and let’s face it, you’re not going on a helicopter joy ride.

“I have filed a formal complaint with the council, insisting on immediate action.”

The bumpy dirt track onto the oval at Macleay Island State School, where the island’s only operating helipad is. Picture: Google.

Mr Scoble said paramedics had flagged concerns about the rocky track with the council as far back as August 2024, but no action was taken.

The track, which slopes down to Macleay Island State School’s oval, which is used for emergency helicopter landings, has long been a point of contention.

Residents have argued a second, more accessible helipad should be reopened beside the island’s centrally-located ambulance station.

Queensland Ambulance acknowledged the poor state of the Arthur St track but said the issue was a council matter.

Community advocates rallied behind Mr Scoble, demanding urgent repairs.

Long-time infrastructure campaigner Gayle Nemeth said road maintenance should never hinder emergency services.

“This has been an issue for months,” she said.

An ambulance bumping along the track to the helipad at the Macleay Is school. Picture: Contributed

Redland MP Rebecca Young’s office reportedly referred the matter to Redland councillor Shane Rendalls in January, but residents claimed they’ve received no updates on clearing the track.

Redland City Council did not respond to questions about when the track would be fixed, why it had been left in disrepair, or how much had been spent on maintenance.

In a statement, the council said: “Redland City Council received the first formal request to review access to the helipad location in early January and is currently investigating the requirements.”

Some residents are also pushing for the disused helipad behind the ambulance station to be expanded, arguing the school oval site was unsuitable and often unavailable.

The existing helipad at the ambulance station cannot accommodate larger aircraft, including the helicopter that flown Mrs Scoble, and requires a 5m extension to allow larger aircraft to safely land.

Colin Scoble has officially asked the Redland City Council to upgrade and mend the helipad access on Macleay Island. Picture: The Courier-Mail

Mr Scoble said the ambulance station’s landing site was more suitable as it provided a secure, direct route, with ambulance officers using their own gate keys for swift emergency access.

“The now-unused helipad on Central High Road should be extended to fit larger rescue helicopters,” he said.

“The trees nearby were never cleared for that expansion after some residents objected, claiming it would disturb black cockatoos.”

He also criticised the Arthur St landing site, saying: “Helicopters can’t land when schoolchildren are using the oval.”

Community member Julie Ball voiced frustration over “bureaucratic red tape.”

“This issue has been raised repeatedly, and we keep hearing the same excuses,” she said.

“Lives are at stake — we need action, not more delays.”

The helicopter landing strip in the centre of Macleay Island is not used by big aircraft such as medical helicopters as it is not large enough and needs a 5m radius extension but that is on hold after complaints the expansion would affect black cockatoos in the area. Picture: Google

Emergency transport infrastructure on Macleay Island has been a long-running concern.

The island is serviced by two ambulances and three paramedics, but getting critically ill patients to the mainland relies on helicopters or water ambulances.

In addition to the rough Arthur St track, residents have reported ambulance delays at Redland Bay Marina, where patients sometimes wait due to congestion from public buses and limited loading zones for emergency vehicles.

Mrs Scoble was released from PA Hospital on Tuesday, and while her husband remains grateful to emergency responders, he insisted change was needed to prevent a future tragedy.