Minister for Health Brad Hazzard opened the facility, saying the AW139 helicopters meant “intensive care in the air”.

“For the patients, it’s a much better experience – a faster helicopter getting to you quicker, with better facilities on board,” he said. 

Asked why the opening occurred more than a year after the base was in use, Mr Hazzard said a commissioning period was needed to ensure it was operational.

One of the southern zone’s eight helicopters is stationed at Orange, with capacity to be deployed elsewhere or joined by other aircraft.

Ambulance NSW chief executive Commissioner Dominic Morgan said three aircraft were deployed from Orange recently as part of an operation in Forbes.

“Everywhere else [in Australia] has mismatched aircraft and you have to be certified to work in the aircraft you’re on, so you have to move entire crews,” he said.

Each crew has four personnel – a pilot and crewman from Toll and a doctor and paramedic from NSW Ambulance. 

The base includes a hangar, staff sleeping quarters and a multipurpose meeting room with capacity for on-site staff training.

Orange won the 24-hour service in 2013 following a council-hosted petition, which attracted more than 30,000 signatures.