Helicopter flights from beach

Press, 20 January 1984, Page 12

Helicopter flights from beach

Sir,—l am not opposed to helicopter sight-seeing flights because they will allow residents and visitors to see our city from the air. However, I have serious doubts about the suitability of the site for the helicopter pad at New Brighton, especially as regards noise and the blowing of sand and dust. The matter should have been discussed by the Parks and Recreation Committee, after a full report, and the committee’s recommendation should have gone to the full council. I have told Cr Burn that I consider he exceeded the authority delegated to him as chairman of the committee when he approved a three-month trial. There was no great need for urgency. Businessmen who make requests a few days before Christmas cannot reasonably expect a decision before the holidays. I am annoyed that I learned of the approval from a newspaper.—Yours, etc., DAVID CLOSE, City Councillor, Pegasus Ward. January 19, 1984.

Sir,—l read with dismay the explanation given by Mr J. H. Gray, the Town Clerk, that while the City Council is in recess the chairman of the Parks and Reserves Committee has the power to grant a lease to Garden City Heliflights for a sightseeing service. Surely the issue should have been given more publicity at a time when fewer people were away on holiday and when the City Council was sitting, so that we could have made representations to our ward councillors. There are many of us who greatly value the peace of the Eastern Suburbs seaboard and are utterly opposed to the destruction pf that tranquillity.—Yours, etc.,

PEGGY ASTLEY. January 19, 1984.

Sir,—l would like to know where I can sign a petition against the helicopter sightseeing service. It is appalling to find our council agreeing to a trial without any reference to the residents who will be disadvantaged by the noise. A question for the council is: when a tree is “protected,” does this mean until someone with enough dollars arrives on the scene? Have any councillors studied the effects on the environment of buildings on foreshores of other beaches? Have they noticed the ugliness of Bondi Beach? Have they noticed that modern councils tend to remove ugly buildings and car parks near beaches, with a consequent buildup of sandhills and natural beauty? Let us save the macrocarpa by the clock, which is one of only two trees to be seen for miles from the beach. Hundreds of trees should be planted along a foreshore free from ugly commercial enterprises.—Yours, etc., M. I. MANNING. January 18, 1984. Sir,—l am most concerned that permission has been given for helicopter sightseeing trips from the beach at New Brighton. Will the sand dunes be eroded by the down draught? As the prevailing wind is easterly any noise is blown inland. Have the residents been considered about the noise problem? No flight plan has been published so is the Estuary still going to be disturbed by the noise?—Yours, etc., ANGELA JOHNSON. January 18, 1984.

Sir—Now that the Christchurch City Council has given its approval for at three-month trial period at

' New Brighton for the helicopter service, it behoves all interested groups and individuals to carefully monitor the service in all aspects. This information should be forwarded to the City Council, so that the information may be used to guide the council members in making their decision on whether the helicopter service continues or terminates.—Yours, etc.,

B. R. HANSEN. January 18, 1984.