Resource consent granted to Queenstown helicopter operator Totally Tourism for helicopter take-offs and landings from an Arthurs Point helipad sets a precedent for similar helipads in high-density housing areas of Queenstown, a long-term opponent of the company's operation says.
The application was subject to a three-day hearing in October before independent commissioners John Matthews and Leigh Overton and attracted 231 submissions - 132 in support and 99 opposed.
In the written decision released yesterday, the commissioners said the majority of those submissions in support came from those living outside the area, while the majority of those opposed came from residents near the site.
The hearing came after 14 months of controversy over the noise of Totally Tourism's operations near the largely residential Arthur's Point.
Totally Tourism owner and director Mark Quickfall said late yesterday afternoon he could not comment until he had read the full decision.
Objector Clive Manners-Wood said he was not surprised by the consent, granted to Totally Tourism to fly visitors participating in rafting, sight-seeing and other trips, and subject to 13 conditions.
"What they have done, in effect, is say the effects of a heliport in a high-density housing area are minor, which in my opinion, is plainly ridiculous".
He was disappointed by the outcome and would "definitely" be taking the matter to the Environment Court.
Despite calls from some objectors to the application for a flight management plan, the commissioners decided instead to limit flights to four a day and a maximum of 14 a week, saying the applicant had to comply with the the terms set.
However, yesterday Mr Manners-Wood disputed the effectiveness of those terms, saying the company had an "appalling compliance record".
"It's been proven over many years the council never polices it," he added.
Submitters had been let down by the commissioners and the decision, instead of being listened to by the [Queenstown Lakes District ] Council, Mr Manners-Wood said.
"The residents now will have to traipse off to the Environment Court, which costs lots of money, because this now sets a precedent for a heliport in any suburb of Queenstown."
Other objectors spoken to by the Otago Daily Times late yesterday had not seen the decision and wanted to read the document before commenting in detail, but Ian Mill, who presented evidence at the hearing from a secret camera to illustrate his submission that Totally Tourism had "proved fundamentally incapable" of complying with its existing consent, said he also was not surprised by it.
Although he thought the conditions limiting flights were "pretty restrictive", he would consider whether or not to pursue the matter in the Environment Court.
Arthurs Point Residents' Association representative Simon Beale said their initial response was one of "bitter disappointment" and they would consider further action once they had read the decision.
