Opposition to a residential helipad in the central Auckland suburb of Westmere has gained the support of like-minded locals in the suburb next door.
The Herne Bay Residents’ Association has voiced sympathy for Westmere locals who are concerned about noise, along with the impact on bird life and recreation, if a resource consent for helicopter use is granted.
Former All Black Ali Williams and rich lister Anna Mowbray have made an application to Auckland Council that would allow two take-offs and two landings every day from a helipad on their residential property in Westmere.
The application is now being considered by an Independent Duty Commissioner at Auckland Council who must first decide whether the consent is notified and therefore open to community input.
One long time Westmere resident, John Valentine, is worried about the impact a helipad would have on Coxs Bay where his children and now his grandchildren have roamed the foreshore at low tide.
"Our initial emotional response was 'Oh no, we can’t take our grand-daughters down there anymore'," Mr Valentine said. "We are scared about the noise and the down draft that the helicopters carry with them."
He and other residents were also concerned that a residential helipad in Westmere would escalate applications across Auckland’s other coastal suburbs.
"It sets a precedent for the next piece of public space. We've got Point Chevalier next once they've done the Westmere water line," Valentine said. "Then it'll be Te Atatū after that and then it'll be Birkenhead."
There were several helipads in Herne Bay, which residents’ association co-chair Dirk Hudig said had meant dealing with complaints of noise and mess over the years.
He says neighbours have described having backyard gatherings disrupted by a helicopter landing close by and there’s often no indication of when the helicopter would take off again.
In addition to having to go inside to escape the noise, Hudig said property owners have to sweep up mess and debris caused by the down draft.
"All these people have to do is drive down the road to Mechanics Bay and they can take off in the proper place," Hudig says. "Or they can go to the North Shore Airfield. There's other places they can use."
In April, Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray submitted a report to Auckland Council in response to a request for more information. It included independent expert ecology, noise and recreation assessments.
The report stated that endangered birds in Westmere’s Coxs Bay were absent at low tide which was around the time consented flights would be planned. The report also stated those affected by excess noise have signed consents and that adverse effect on recreational activities such as walking and kayaking "will be minor".
The ultimate decision on the application — and who could have a say on it — was now in the hands of Auckland Council.
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