Helipad consent concerns voiced at meeting

More than 40 Arthurs Point residents turned out on Tuesday night to protest against Totally Tourism Ltd's attempt to change its resource consent for landing at the helipad at 160 Arthurs Point Rd.

Arthurs Point landowner Ian Mill said there was a composed but concerned atmosphere at the community association meeting. Questions were raised and while no resolution was reached, Mr Mill said several people had requested forms on which submissions could be made to Queenstown Lakes District Council about the application.

Totally Tourism was seeking resource consent approval to widen the use of the Arthurs Point helipad to include sight-seeing and combination trip clients, as well as rafting trip clients.

A council commissioner has decided the application will be publicly notified.

Yesterday, Queenstown Lakes District Council also publicly notified the resource consent applications made by Alpine Choppers Ltd to land and take-off from 119 sites.

Lakes Environmental planning manager Brian Fitzpatrick said Alpine Choppers had requested the public notification, "which was unusual".

"Not all applicants had requested public notification. Notification will be determined on a case-by-case basis by a council commissioner. The applications will be notified if the effects on the environment are judged to be more than minor."

The closing date for all submissions is June 5, with public hearings to follow on dates to be decided by the council.

Of the applications for about 500 landing sites by Wakatipu helicopter operators, 45 had been granted and they were in line with existing Department of Conservation concessions.

 

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