A block in Humffray Street South’s industrial precinct could soon be home to a helicopter landing pad if a planning application receives the green light from the Ballarat City Council.
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The block, which is at the rear of the well known Ballarat Construction Management building, is being proposed as the base for up to 10 recreational flights a month.
Applicant and BCM director David Moyle said while he expected there may be some concern from nearby residents, the less than two-tonne helicopter would not present significant increase in noise.
The block is classified as industrial zone three and is more than 150 metres away from the nearest residence, the minimum distance required by the Environment Protection Authority.
“It’s not an application that's done every day and people will be concerned there’s a loss to their amenity because when you hear helicopters fly overhead they’re usually police or ambulance and they are very loud,” Mr Moyle said.
“What we’re proposing is very different to that and the helicopter is considerably smaller”
While the entire block is 2250 square metres, just 64 square metres will be used for the landing site.
Because the land is flat and the size of the proposed helicopters is small, no additional infrastructure is required.
Regulations state use of a landing site outside of controlled airspace is prohibited between 10pm and 7am, however the operators stated the latest landings would take place before 8pm.
Aviation laws also require helicopters to reach 304 metres (1000 feet) before travelling over any built-up areas.
Mr Moyle said this would not be an issue for the site as helicopters would fly either north or south, missing the immediate residential blocks to the east and west.
However a pilot landing at the Humffray Street South block would not have to follow a designated flight path as the landing pad would not be in a controlled airspace.
“(The noise generated) will be well and truly below the noise currently generated within the industrial precinct at Humffray Street,” Mr Moyle said. “I’m extremely confident it won’t change the amenity of the area.”
Mr Moyle said despite lodging the application in August, the first use of the site was likely to be two years away.
The proposal is yet to receive any objections.