Rich lister’s private chopper plan has wings clipped
Australia’s richest woman’s bid to install a private helicopter landing pad at her company’s new headquarters has been rejected by a city council concerned about noise.
Hancock Research by Gina Rinehart It wanted to build a site on top of its yet-to-be-built 14-storey headquarters in West Perth.
It will be used only during daylight hours, up to 12 times a year, to “enable occasional corporate transportation,” the resource company said.
However, City of Perth planners rejected the plan, saying the proposed site would adversely affect the amenity of the surrounding community and that the applicant had not demonstrated that noise and vibration impacts could be reduced.
After a spirited debate for and against pads at Tuesday night’s meeting, council members voted 6-2 in favor of the city’s recommendation.
Hancock Prospecting said it was disappointed by the decision and missed an opportunity to cement Perth’s reputation as a globally recognized, growing center for international mining and business investment.
“Rooftop helipads are common in major and prominent CBDs around the world, including New York, London and Tokyo,” a spokesman said.
Ms Rinehart’s company also suggested there could be “consequences” for emergency departments and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
“Due to the building’s location between Perth’s two major trauma hospitals and Perth Children’s Hospital, the helipad will have the potential to save lives,” the spokesman said.
“Our position remains that there is no basis to dismiss noise and safety concerns.”
Hancock Prospecting is now considering its options.
Ms Rinehart is not the first Australian billionaire whose helipad dreams crash and burn.
The late media mogul Kerry Packer’s proposal for a helicopter landing pad atop his Sydney headquarters was rejected in the early nineties.
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