[news] Helicopter Noise Annoying East Melbourne People

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Helicopter noise annoying East Melbourne people
February 12, 2016 3:00pm ANDREW JEFFERSON Urban affairs Herald Sun
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East Melbourne residents say an increase in aircraft noise is ruining their quality of life and their health.
INNER city residents say an increase in aircraft noise is ruining their quality of life and their health.



Figures from Air Services Australia reveal about 1800 helicopters flew over East Melbourne in the first six months of 2015, much to the annoyance of local residents.

Most were tourist joy flights transporting high flying clients to major sporting events such as the AFL Grand Final or the Melbourne Cup.

Residents say the favoured route through the city for helicopters and light aircraft tends to be via the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Yarra River.

Many of these flights arrive from Essendon Airport heading in a north/south direction over the East Melbourne area.

Murray Hohnen, from the East Melbourne Group, said the group has long been concerned about the noise and safety impacts of frequent low level flights by aircraft and helicopters over residential areas.

He said residents main concern was with the increased number of joy flights, flights relating to sports events, and training flights — not flights by emergency services.

“It’s a daily problem with helicopter and light aircraft buzzing around,” Mr Hohnen said.
“On Grand Final day, one helicopter hovered over the MCG for more than an hour.”

The City of Melbourne says it has received complaints from several East Melbourne residents about increased aircraft noise plus residents of Siddeley St in South Wharf who live close to a helipad.

A noise survey of residents revealed that 86 per cent of people stated that their quality of live was being negatively affected by aircraft noise.

While regulations require most helicopters and small aircraft to fly at a minimum of 1000 feet, regulations are silent on key issues such as flight paths, times of operation and minimum heights for hovering.

The council is now seeking to develop Fly Neighbourly Agreements (FNA) with helicopter operators to safely manage the large numbers of flights and consider issues such as early morning and evening flight curfews.

The two small helipads located on the Yarra River are both operated by private companies.

Clem Newton-Brown, a director of Whitemark Property and Planning, said helicopter transport was in danger of being squeezed out of Melbourne.

He said the time has come for Victoria to designate some specific areas for helicopter landing within the CBD and ensure these rights are protected into the future.

“With the explosion in inner city residential living the time has come to consider a dedicated Melbourne heliport in an appropriate location to ensure that this unique form of transport is secure into the future,” he said.

“If helicopters are run out of the CBD, regional tourism and emergency services will suffer.

“With “fly neighbourly” agreements in place there is no reason why we cannot continue to support an industry which has been operating incident free in the CBD for over 50 years”

andrew.jefferson@news.com.au
 

Matt F

Well-Known Member
Doesn't bother me, infact I don't notice them most of the time.
But it must be hell for the apartments on the top floor, with all their large windows and sliding doors.
 
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