Helicopter landing sites
Proposed changes to the planning requirements for a helicopter landing site are being considered.
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Background
The Commonwealth Government regulates airspace and aircraft operations. All helicopters have to comply with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Regulations 1998 that include airworthiness requirements, navigation approvals, general operating and flight paths and other rules, all of which are not planning considerations.
A planning permit is currently required to use land for a heliport and a helipad whether or not the helicopter use is a primary or ancillary use of land.
The purpose of the review is to:
- identify any circumstances where a helicopter can take off and land on a site without causing an adverse amenity impact on nearby dwellings or other sensitive uses
- give the community and the helicopter industry certainty about when a planning permit is needed for the take off and landing of a helicopter.
Issues
- What form and frequency of helicopter take off and landing should constitute an ancillary and temporary use of the land?
- The time taken to obtain a planning permit may not match the industry’s need to respond to market demand.
- The current provisions are intended to protect the community from potential unreasonable amenity impact from nearby helicopter use. Are there circumstances where the take off and landing of a helicopter will not cause an adverse amenity impact to dwellings or other sensitive uses and need not be controlled?
What changes are proposed ?
The proposed changes to the Victoria Planning Provisions include:
- Proposed changes to Clauses 52.15 and 74 - showing track changes (PDF - 215 KB)
- Proposed changes to Clauses 52.15 and 74 - accessible version (DOC - 51 KB)
Clause 52.15 (Heliport)
The changes to this clause:
- clarify where a helicopter landing site is a secondary or ancillary use of land, rather than a permanent land use
- introduce new planning permit application requirements and decision guidelines for a helicopter landing site
- remove the need for a permit to use land for a helicopter landing site where both of the following apply:
- hours of operation and frequency are limited
- an appropriate separation distance from a sensitive use has been specified.
A distance of 1000 metres from a sensitive use has been proposed. The Noise Control Guidelines (PDF - 186 KB), published by the Environment Protection Authority, state that 150 to 250 metres separation of a helicopter from a sensitive use (depending on the weight of the helicopter) will meet the maximum acceptable noise levels for a residence. The final recommended distance may vary based on consultation feedback.
Clause 74 (Definitions)
Change the definition to update the term to include both permanent and temporary helicopter uses on a site.
Submissions
Public submissions for this review closed on 7 September 2011.
Submissions are currently being reviewed.
If you have any further enquiries, please contact us by email at planning.systems@dpcd.vic.gov.au