New airspace plan proposed for Mount Cook

Press, 24 March 1980, Page 4

New airspace plan proposed for Mount Cook

Strict controls on the use of helicopters in the Mount Cook National Park are propsed in thq board's draft management plan.

The restrictions were proposed because of the rapid increase in the use of helicopters in the park and their greater flexibility of operation than fixed-wing aircraft. The ' use of helicopters was limited to the purposes of park management. search and rescue, scientific and survey work, wild animal control, or other acitivies determined by the board. The draft management plan was approved by the National Parks Authority and is open for public comment and submissions until Mav 31.

The executive officer of the board (Mr A. L. Wooster) said it was the first opportunity the Mount Cook National Park Board had to bring together policies formulated over the years. The board had already received comment on the helicopter restrictions and intended to give it further consideration when the plan was reviewed, he said. Although the board

not control the airspace over the park, its policy was aimed to keep air traffic to a minimum by “controlled restraint.”

Air traffic over the park was expected to increase, and to limit the effect of this it was intended to retain many areas free from aircraft said the report. Public safety by education rather than restriction within the park was proposed in the board’s police on visitor safety.

Although the primary responsibility for search and rescue was with the Police Department, the board had obligations in the park, and staff were trained to cope with emergencies that could be expected in an alpine region, the report said.

All reasonable precautions for the safety and protection of the public would be taken. Introduced plants and animals -within the park would be exterminated as far as was practicable, and native species preserved and protected. The draft plan included the board’s policy on the Mount Cook Village which was based on the review comittee's development plan, published in 1977. The policy included proposals to develop allotted sites in the residential section of the village for multi-unit purposes and to supply adequate car-park-ing facilities for the needs of the Mount Cook Village.