Helico Australia Pty Ltd will use the Transition Fund grant towards the construction of a new $1.5 million purpose-built maintenance facility and headquarters, so it can meet the growing demands of the aviation industry.
Helico Australia Director, Hylke Kijlstra said the new premises will consist of larger workshops with work bays for helicopter and engine tear-down and rebuilds, a spare parts store, paint booths, sheet metal manufacturing and non-destructive testing. There will also be a dedicated area for innovative engineering design and fabrication technologies.
'This grant will allow us to build the facility we have dreamt of since we started Helico.'
Image credit: Helico Australia
'We have outgrown our ‘little red shed’ and our new premises will help us meet our high customer demand and enhance productivity.'
Helico Australia is planning to use local tradespeople for the construction of the new facilities, having already established sound relationships with trades in the region.
The business currently has 24 staff, and when the new facilities are built it will employ an additional 9 full time employees in a variety of roles ranging from engineers to hangar and grounds staff and trainees.
'Our goal is to grow our employment base and create more opportunities for people to train locally, become qualified and remain living in the area.'
Helico Australia services and rebuilds Robinson helicopters that are used by the agricultural and resources industries in northern Australia for stock mustering and transport, as well as the delivery of supplies during the wet season.
Round 2 of the Forestry Transition Fund, which supports job creation and business development in and around communities impacted by the end of native timber harvesting, is now open. A $20,000 employment incentive payment for the employment of ex-native timber workers is also available.
Page last updated: 02/12/24