Group wants ’copter flight injunction

Press, 11 April 1984, Page 8

Group wants ’copter flight injunction

A group of New Brighton residents will seek an injunction against the Christchurch City Council in an effort to stop helicopter flights along the New Brighton foreshore.

The South New Brighton Residents’ Association and seven members of the New Brighton Action Committee want an injunction requiring the council to resolve the matter through its townplanning committee rather than by the council.

The chairman of the residents’ association, Mr W. D. Jarman, said that the group wanted a town-planning solution to the problem because it had become a “political matter” in the council. The group had decided to seek an injunction last week after the chairman of the council’s parks and recreation committee, Cr J. F.

Burn, recommended a fiveweek extension of the helicopter services until May 21.

“Cr Burn was backed completely by Citizens’ councillors, and Labour councillors who support us were outnumbered,” Mr Jarman said. “We want to get an unbiased decision.” The council’s three-month trial agreement with Garden City Heliflights, which rung the helicopter service, had expired on April 12. Cr Burn recommended extension of the service because the council had been unable to discuss the matter, and it seemed “inappropriate” to stop the service before it could be discussed. Mr Jarman said that papers for the injunction were being prepared by the group’s solicitors. He said that if any deci-

sions made by the townplanning committee were not satisfactory to the group, it would take the matter to the Planning Tribunal. The council’s own solicitors had agreed that the helicopter services possibly conflicted with zoning requirements in the area, he said. The parks and recreation committee will hear representations on the matter from interested members of the public after its monthly meeting on May 8. It would go to the council from there, said Mr Jarman. Mr Denis Hewison, a New Brighton resident who helped organise a petition opposing the - helicopter flights, said that the council had “sidestepped” the problem by extending the trial period.