Residents Say It Will 'Ruin Their Quiet Neighborhood'

Residents of Auckland, New Zealand living near an area called Stanley Point are fighting hard to prevent a helicopter landing pad from being built nearby.

The nearly four acre private estate on which the proposed helipad would be built is owned by the director of Man O'War Vineyard on Waikehe Island, according to a report appearing on Auckland Now online. More than 120 residents who live near the $20 million property have submitted comments saying that allowing helicopters to fly from the property will "ruin their quiet neighborhood."

The applicant is Tokeoka Properties. Berridge Spencer, director of the vineyard, is also listed as a director of the applicant company. Tokeoka Properties said in its application that the number of flights would be very low, and that they would fly over Ngatiranga Bay to help mitigate the noise. They also said established trees around the helipad site would shield the neighbors from having to look at the aircraft.

Residents of the Greenhithe neighborhood lost a similar fight last year. That application drew only 18 comments in opposition, but many said they did not know about the proposal until it was too late. Now, they say, the noise is "horrific" and that Philip Thornton, who owns the property and uses his helicopter to fly to his business interests, completely disregards the agreed-to flight paths, times, and frequency.

Those opposing the Stanley Point helipad say the aircraft operations would not only be noisy, but they fear a loss of privacy, and say it would adversely affect bird life in the area. Of 129 comments on the proposal received, only six were in favor of allowing the helipad to be built.

FMI: www.aucklandnz.com