POLAIR helicopter to elevate Cairns’ crime fighting capacity, Far North MPs say

Increased propeller power will help Far North authorities apprehend more criminals with the introduction of a long-mooted police helicopter based on its success in another regional Queensland city, leaders say.

The Queensland Government has announced Cairns and FNQ will receive a police helicopter, based at Cairns Airport and operated by Meridian Helicopters. Member for Cook Cynthia Lui, Member for Barron River Craig Crawford and Labor candidate for Mulgrave Richie Bates made the announcement at the Cairns Airport general aviation area. Picture: Brendan Radke

Increased propeller power will help Far North authorities apprehend more criminals with the introduction of a long-mooted police helicopter based on its success in another regional Queensland city, leaders say.

The Cairns Post exclusively reported on Monday that the Queensland Police Service would expand its aerial capabilities with a POLAIR helicopter in the region from next month, as part of a new deal with Meridian Helicopters.

Under the terms of the agreement, the aviation company will supply a helicopter, civilian pilot and operator and be fitted with additional police equipment for the next 12 months.

Premier Steven Miles, with Member for Thuringowa, Aaron Harper, Member for Barron River, Craig Crawford and Member for Mundigburra Les Walker inspecting the Townsville Police helicopter in April. Picture: Evan Morgan

Member for Barron River Craig Crawford, who travelled to Townsville with Member for Cairns Michael Healy and Premier Steven Miles earlier this year to inspect a POLAIR helicopter, said the new chopper will be an important tool in curbing crime.

“It will be run by police and dispatched by police,” Mr Crawford said.

“The main aim is putting an eye in the sky to use thermal imaging and infrared.

“They can lock onto a moving vehicle and the computer and the camera will lock on the pilot simply has to fly to the map and all the systems will track that person.

“You can hide under a rock, the helicopter will find you.”

With the start of the wet season just over a month away, the chopper will increase emergency services’ capacity to respond to a disaster, Labor’s candidate for Mulgrave Richie Bates said.

“As we’ve seen in storm season and adverse weather events it’s really important to have that capability,” Mr Bates said.

“But it’s also important to up the ante and make sure that we have those capabilities for search and apprehending offenders.”

Customising the helicopters took time with some of the equipment imported from overseas, Mr Bates said.

“These sort of helicopters aren’t available off-the-shelf to buy,” he said.

“They’re fitted with great technology like infrared, so it’s very important that we get the right one. In the meantime, we’re getting this chopper online and there’ll be a more permanent chopper come on board later on.”

Meanwhile, Labor’s candidates have been busy pounding the pavement after Premier Steven Miles called on regional Queensland pollies to do more to reach out to voters, following the release of worrying Newspoll figures.

Mr Crawford and around 10 volunteers visited homes in Machans Beach and Holloways Beach on Sunday while Mr Bates has been banging on doors in Yarrabah, Gordonvale and White Rock.

“I don’t have a doorknock count … but it’s a lot,” Mr Crawford said.

Member for Cook, Cynthia Lui said she was also answering the Premier’s call.

“I spent last week travelling all around Cape York and made some very good engagement, talking to people about what matters to them,” she said.

“I’ll be doing a lot more door-knocking in places like Mareeba and the Douglas Shire.”

The cost of the contract with Meridian is “commercial in confidence.”

Originally published as POLAIR helicopter to elevate Cairns’ crime fighting capacity, Far North MPs say