Chopper flights ‘on hold’
January 31, 2008
Section: News
BRENDAN CRABB
A PROPOSAL that would have resulted in up to 2000 helicopter flights over Jamberoo and Kiama each summer has been withdrawn pending an environmental study.
Last August, Jamberoo Recreation Park owners lodged a development application with Kiama Council to build two helipads on the western side of the park.
The proposal would have enabled the operation of commercial helicopter flights for about 100 days between October and March.
After advice from Kiama Council, the development application was withdrawn early this month.
The council informed the park owners that the development proposal could be classified as designated development rather than integrated development, which was the category under which the application was lodged.
“(This would) entail a different standard of submission and notification, including the provision of an environmental impact study as opposed to the general local development application as submitted,” council director of Environmental Services Andrew Knowlson said.
“Council staff sought legal advice, which subsequently confirmed the proposal was indeed designated development.”
An environmental study will investigate the sustainability of all aspects of the proposal. It will also explore all possible options for other potential locations for the helipads within the park’s premises.
Jamberoo Recreation Park owner Jim Eddy said he would wait for the results of the report and hopefully re-lodge the application in the future.
“It’s a technicality,” Mr Eddy said.
“Council has had legal advice and needs to look further at the environmental impact, because we don’t really know what the impact will be.
“The chances of success are low if it’s not environmentally sustainable … if it’s unrealistic and unreasonable we won’t proceed with it.”
Mr Eddy hoped the report would be completed by the end of February.
If the study determines the project is sustainable, he planned to re-lodge the application in July or August this year, with an aim to beginning operation of the scenic flights in October.