Country roads ‘not peaceful and tranquil’ – ruling - Chopper gets the green light to fly
Wednesday, 08 June 2011
By Neryda McNabb
SHINY FUTURE: Polit Mark Somerville is looking forward to restarting scenic flights at Julians Berry Farm and Cafe next season after getting resource consent for the operation from Whakatane District Council. PHOTO Troy Baker C4051-02
SCENIC helicopter flights will be back on the menu at Julians Berry Farm and Café next season.
Attempts to legalise the popular summer flights have finally succeeded with Whakatane District Council giving the go ahead for Harbour City Helicopters owner Mark Somerville to operate from his Awakeri home base and seasonally at the berry farm in Huna Road.
Although the number of flights a day is fewer than originally applied for, the decision has pleased Mr Somerville, his wife Leanne and berry farm owners Paul and Monica Julian, who say it will be good for both businesses and the community.
“Common sense has prevailed,” said Mrs Julian.
“It’s great for Whakatane, great for the berry farm and great for Mark.”
Scenic $59, 10 minute flights were launched during the 2009-10 berry season, but the council soon shut down the enterprise following complaints from neighbours.
They told the Somervilles and the Julians they needed to get resource consent but delays meant they were unable to get one in time for the 2010-11 berry season.
Mrs Julian said the helicopter rides were extremely popular and last year 300 people – locals as well as tourists – signed a petition supporting their reintroduction.
Mr Somerville applied to operate up to four flights a day from his Pine View Lane property and up to 12 flights a day from the berry farm over the Christmas period.
The application was heard in April and attracted mixed support with most immediate neighbours in favour.
Those opposed raised concerns about noise, safety, disturbance to stock and a negative impact on their quality of living.
At the hearing Mr Somerville, who has been operating the helicopter from his property since 2008, showed video footage of neighbouring horses apparently undisturbed by the helicopter taking off and landing.
When hearings committee members went to watch the helicopter take off for themselves they found the noise was not as great as anticipated and was mitigated to some degree by the vegetation and buildings around the helipad.
It was also masked by road noise from traffic on busy State Highway30.
“Children, a dog and a horse were observed more or less in line with the helicopter take off path and appeared to be totally unconcerned,” they said in their decision.
In giving the two helipads the green light, the committee accepted that opponents were genuinely concerned for the perceived adverse noise effects.
However, they provided no supporting evidence and the committee preferred the evidence of noise experts and their own observations.
They did not feel either Pine View Lane or Huna Road could be considered “peaceful and tranquil” rural locations.
Under the conditions of his consent Mr Somerville is restricted to two flights (two take-offs and two landings) a day at Pine View Lane between the hours of 7am and evening civil twilight, with a maximum of 13 flights a week.
From December 26 to January 16, up to nine flights a day can be offered at Julians Berry Farm between the hours of 10am and 4pm.
No helicopter maintenance is allowed at the berry farm and three additional car parks are required.
At both locations Mr Somerville is required to operate in accordance with the Helicopter Association International’s voluntary noise abatement programme, “Fly Neighbourly Guide”.
Mr Somerville’s other commercial work includes ferrying hunters into the bush, frost protection and photography work.
The appeal period closed on Friday. It is not yet known whether any of the opponents have lodged objections with the Environment Court.
