Helipad bid to continue

Surf Coast set to back controversial plan

THE Surf Coast Shire looks set to back plans for a controversial Freshwater Creek helipad at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after deferring its decision on the matter for several months.

However, the support comes subject to a reduction in the proposed number of movements and hours of operation.

The council chose to ignore advice given by its officers and delay making a decision on the planning permit application in April, tipping the application over the statutory time limit.

Council is no longer obliged to determine the application as VCAT considers the failure to decide as a refusal of the application.

But council will officially determine its stance on the application at a meeting tomorrow night — 287 days after plans were lodged — to inform its position at the three-day hearing in September.

The original planning permit lodged last November sought permission for a “maximum of nine helicopter movements occurring between 7am and 8pm daily” out of the Freshwater Creek property.

It now proposes a total of four helicopter movements per day.

Common issues raised by the 48 objectors include the hours of operation, number and frequency of movements and noise disturbance.

A detailed review of the application prepared by officers states the “proposed use achieves an acceptable planning outcome, subject to a reduction in the movements proposed and the hours of operation”.

It suggests the helicopter landing site be used only once a day, three days a week, and only between the hours of 7am and 8pm on weekdays and 8am and 8pm on weekends and public holidays — alterna- tively wrapping up operations at sunset on occasions where that occurs first.

The report recommends council support the approval of the application, with revisions to conditions.

Officers advise against options that would see council pursue refusal of the application, or fail to declare its stance which they caution holds “reputational risk”.

Applicants Tim and Kirsty Metcalf previously said they had bought a helicopter with the ability to transport large quantities of water in the hope of subcontracting to emergency services for the fire-prone summer season.

Conditions outlined by council stipulate the site must not be used for commercial charter including scenic joy flights. The couple previously described the permit experience as a “witch hunt” and said they were looking forward to having their application heard in a “neutral” setting.