Public Submissions for Coxs Bay Helicopter are NOW OPEN

Click here to start your submission

4 helicopter movements a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year between 7am and 10pm! That’s what the owners of 38 Rawene Ave, Westmere have applied for on the headland in Coxs Bay.

Auckland Council believe that this application could have detrimental impacts on birdlife, trees and the neighbourhood. The public are being invited to submit on this controversial application. This means anyone, anywhere, in the country can submit their views. 

If you have already sent an email or letter to Council, you will need to submit again.

Every submission counts and takes only a few minutes to complete. To start your submission click on the blue box at the top of the Council’s “Make A Submission” page.

Use the suggested wording below or list your own reasons why this application should be declined. You can also download, complete and post the resource consent submission form here.

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE 26 November 2024

Information You’ll Need to Copy into Your Submission

Resource Consent Number: LUC60389929

Applicant Name: Alexander James Williams

Address of Proposed Activity: 38 Rawene Ave, Westmere

Proposed Activity: To use a residential site in the Residential – Mixed Housing Suburban zone for helicopter take-off and landing, and to exceed noise standards.

The specific parts of the application to which my/our submission relates to are (suggested): 

The non complying activity and the form(s) of its exercise. Use of the site for helicopter take off and landing will have adverse effects on the environment and neighbourhood amenities that will be more than minor.

The reasons for my/our submission are (use below points and/or put forward your own reasons): 

• Helicopter noise and rotor wash have significant adverse effects on birds and people. Granting this controversial application will impact many. All this just to provide minor convenience for a few people.

• The proposed flight path crosses roosting birds on the headland and the valuable foraging habitat of Coxs Bay where endangered Oystercatchers, Caspian terns, Banded dotterel, NZ dotterel and Eastern bar-tailed godwits feed on the tidal edge. The mudflats from Meola Reef to the Herne Bay coastline host thousands of indigenous birds.

• This helicopter will land right over a public beach (approx. 6m from the helipad) and near a public reserve which poses significant safety risks to the public.

• Private helicopters have to cross the foreshore impacting the ability of the general public to use the area. Stop this creeping privatisation of the public realm.

• Private helicopters have adverse effects on the character and amenity values of neighbourhoods, public beaches and reserves.

• Urban intensification will see Auckland more densely occupied. Protecting quiet and natural spaces is vital for a sustainable and liveable city.

• Coxs Bay is widely used for recreation on land and on water. West End Tennis Club, Hawke Sea Scouts, the Kayak Club, children’s sports teams, walkers, boaties and wind surfers would be subjected to invasive noise and potential dangers of helicopter take-offs and landings.

• Helicopter down drafts can kill. https://tinyurl.com/downdraftskill

• Helicopter landing rights are granted in perpetuity. Once approved they can’t be revoked. They destroy peaceful skies and biodiverse habitats with no way back. They simply must not be granted in the first place.

• Helicopters have a huge carbon emission impact when compared to other modes of transport.

• Applications for residential helipads are increasing. A helicopter in Westmere would be a precedent-setting event. Private helicopters threaten all inner harbour suburbs. They would travel along the Herne Bay and Westmere coastline turning our precious harbour into an aerial motorway and will have cumulative effects.

• There is a public helipad less than 15 mins drive away.

The decision I/we would like the council to make is:

Decline the application

Click here to start your submission

Quiet Sky Waitematā will present expert evidence at the public hearing to stop this frightening precedent in Coxs Bay and we need your support:

- Make your views known through your submission

- Donate to 06-0145-0789030-00. Email hello@quietsky.nz for receipt - all donations are eligible for 33% tax rebate

- Donate to our GiveALittlePage

- Sign our petition

- Join our Facebook page

If you have any questions get in touch hello@quietsky.nz

Thank you for your support.