Paraparawma might flights ‘should stop’

Press, 10 February 1988, Page 13

Paraparawma might flights ‘should stop’

PA Wellington A Health Department survey recommends that night flights from Paraparaumu Airport used to distribute the “National Business Review” daily newspaper should stop.

The recommendation is contained in a noise survey by the department. Dispensations to the airport’s 10.30 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew were granted last year so that issue of N.B.R. could be flown out between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. from Monday to Friday. The Kapiti Borough Council recommended the dispensations to the Ministry of Transport’s Civil Aviation Division. When three aircraft began night flights, residents disturbed by take-off noise formed the Kapiti Noise Abatement Group.

After pressure from the group, the council asked the Department of Health to make noise survey measurements. The report, which was presented to the council before Christmas, has not been made public. The “Dominion” newspaper reported that the department’s brief was to ascertain whether the flights constituted a statutory nuisance under the Health Act.

The department monitored 20 flights and obtained 27 results, with 88.9 per cent exceeding at least one of the abatement criteria.

A health protection officer, David Speedy, said: “From these observations, I am of the opinion that a statutory nuisance exists ... be-

tween 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Monday to Friday.”

He recommended that aircraft should not be allowed to operate from Paraparaumu between 10.30 p.m. and 6 a.m., and that those curfew requirements be “reinstated without exemption.” The Town Clerk for the Kapiti Borough Council, Mr Peter Manderson, said the council had not yet debated the report but “had looked at it and had some technical questions answered.”

A special meeting on the issue is scheduled for February 22. The public will be able to make submissions.

The editor of “N.8.R.,” Jim Eagles, said his newspaper would probably be represented at the public meeting.