Nzone cuts noise, seeks new consent

Robynne King of Queenstown, Bruce McGregor of Roxburgh, Francis King of Queenstown, Pip and Rory...
Robynne King of Queenstown, Bruce McGregor of Roxburgh, Francis King of Queenstown, Pip and Rory Tisdall of Lawrence, and Sue McGregor of Roxburgh.
Queenstown's tandem skydive Nzone has added two planes to its collection and applied for a new resource consent reflecting reduced noise levels from the company.

Last year, the Queenstown-based company bought two aircraft, a Cresco 750 and a Cessna Supervan 900, to help with changes to noise levels.

The aircraft are also faster than the ones currently used, which would mean quicker trips for customers.

Nzone director Lindsay Williams said that while the company could operate under its current consent, a new consent should incorporate rules based on the lower noise levels the company now operated on.

"Our existing consent is based on noise levels that are far more than anything we produce these days and it restricts us in the number of flights we can undertake, because that number is based on old noise levels."

Mr Williams said Nzone planned to take more flights that would be quieter and shorter.

"We need permission to operate our daily flight limit as an average, as was the intent of the original consent, so we can effectively mitigate bad-weather days and deal with the booking backlogs that result.

"The quantum of noise exposure, even directly beneath the flight path, will be much less than it was in earlier years."

Noise consultants Marshall Day provided a full noise report as part of the application.

Noise testing was conducted at points considered to be noise-sensitive, at Jacks Point Village, Jacks Point Highlands, Lakeside Estate, Jardine's and the proposed Jacks Point Lodge.

 

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