Highland Heritage heliport limited to seven flights a week

Councillors unanimously rejected the expansion on Tuesday night after staff recommended refusal based on unacceptable noise and visual impacts and a failure by the proposal to seek alternatives.

Tourism would account for 20-40 per cent of the flights, with 15 per cent for charter, 25-30 per cent for emergencies and 20-25 per cent for pilot training.

Six residents opposed the development at the meeting.

Dr David Serisier said he feared living under uncontrolled airspace because it was not monitored by the Civil Aviation and Safety Authority or Air Services Australia. 

“Local council, once approved an operation under uncontrolled airspace, will have no power, effectively handing over all control to the operators,” he said.

Peter Fox and Phillip Middleton asked councillors to consider their loved ones, who were often woken by helicopter noise despite double glazing.

“I implore on you to give my two-year-old her midday sleep,” Mr Fox said.

Mr Fox said the heliport already exceeded its allowed seven movements a week.

Councillor Russell Turner asked Mr Fox how many movements occurred and he answered 20 to 40.

Consultant for the applicant David Walker asked for a deferral for further discussions, including a guarantee no flights would land or take off between 10pm and 7am.

“The suggestion there’s no control, the suggestion that any flight path can be used, the suggestion that any time of day or night of departures and arrivals could occur is simply not correct,” he said.

Councillors immediately rejected a deferral, with councillor Ron Gander pointing out the council had spent $20 million at Orange Airport.

“It has emergency services and fuelling facilities – I believe [the heliport’s] out of place and it should be put to bed now and finally,” he said.

A separate report will come back to the council on illegal building works already completed at the heliport.