Hang-gliding banned in Heathcote Valley

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33611, 13 August 1974, Page 14

Hang-gliding banned in Heathcote Valley

Hang-gliding has been banned in the Heathcote Valley, and the Lyttelton Borough Council has decided that its consent will be needed for such flights in the borough.

The Heathcote Valley ban follows accidents. One hanir-glider pilot landed near the Lyttelton road tunnel toll plaza, and another nar-. rowly escaped death when he landed in 11,000 volt power lines. The ban was decided on at a meeting of officials of the Canterbun* Hang Gliding Club, the ChristchurchLyttelton Road Tunnel

Authority, the Heathcote i County Council, and the • Civil Aviation Division of the ? .Ministry of Transport. The club’s safety officer (Mr P. Fleming) said it was hoped to get permission to ! land on farmland in Morgans Valley, further east. Organisations or individuals who want to hangglide in the Lyttelton Borough will be unable to do? so without the consent of the; Lyttelton Borough Council. The council decided this last evening because of the

damage when the hangglider became entangled in the main 11,000-volt feeder line to the borough on August 4. cutting off the supply for three hours. “In the interest of public safetv and to prevent any repetition of the recent accident, I suggest that the council give consideration to seeking the co-operation of other interested local bodies in the area to prohibit this sport in the vicinity of all overhead power lines,” the electrical engineer (Mr R. P. Miller) said in a letter. Cr J. L. Baines said that some organisations undertook to be responsible for their members only.