By WAYNE THOMPSON
A resource consent bid for a commercial heliport near the Tawharanui Regional Park, east of Warkworth, has drawn 150 objections and 450 submissions in support.
Objectors complain that the Skyworks Helicopters base is in a special zone which is meant to preserve the highly valued natural character and
environment of the coastal and rural area.
They say the area will be spoiled by intrusive helicopter noise.
Skyworks director Roger Stevenson said the site at Baddeleys Beach Rd farm had been used since 1997.
But the company needed resource consent to expand operations from a restricted monthly average of two flights a day. It was seeking up to 12 flights a day.
Operations included crop and forest spraying, lifting construction materials, power-line maintenance, tourism and services to Kawau and other Hauraki Gulf islands.
A Rodney District Council planning report says the heliport is 1km from holiday homes at Baddeleys and Campbells Beaches but these can be avoided by restricting flightpaths.
Acoustic reports say conditions tagged to resource consent will give a satisfactory protection from noise.
A hearing of the resource consent application is expected to finish next Tuesday.
Tawharanui is 90km from Auckland. The park has 588ha of farmland bounded by white sand beaches and a marine reserve.
nzherald.co.nz/environment
