Auckland Council’s Policy and Planning Committee has voted to urgently clarify and tighten how private helicopter use in residential zones is managed under the Auckland Unitary Plan. The Auckland Unitary Plan applies to all places in Auckland, other than the Hauraki Gulf Islands.
Chair of the Policy and Planning Committee, Cr Richard Hills, says the council has heard public concerns about the use of helicopters in residential areas and is taking a proactive approach to clarify the rules.
“The council’s longstanding view has been that, under the Auckland Unitary Plan, private helicopter take-offs and landings in residential areas are a non-complying activity. This is one of the most restrictive categories of activity under the Resource Management Act. It needs a resource consent which is only granted under very strict conditions.
“A recent decision from an independent hearings panel determined that private helicopter take-offs and landings are a permitted activity. This interpretation of our rules is extremely concerning. The decision today allows us to act urgently to clarify the rules so there is no ambiguity going forward,” says Cr Hills.
What are the next steps?
The committee voted to pursue two actions to clarify and strengthen the rules in the Auckland Unitary Plan.
This first action is to seek an urgent decision from the Environment Court to clarify how private helicopter activity in residential areas on the Auckland mainland should currently be interpreted under the plan.
Alongside this, the council will initiate a change to the Auckland Unitary Plan to strengthen the helicopter provisions and make it explicitly clear that private helicopter take-offs and landings in residential areas are non-complying activities, with some targeted areas that may be prohibited activities.
Cr Richard Hills says: “Seeking a decision from the Environment Court will help us deal with the immediate issue of what’s currently allowed under the Auckland Unitary Plan while work progresses on a plan change to strengthen the rules on helicopter use in residential areas.
“A full plan change can take up to two years and will be considered by independent commissioners, so this is a sensible and efficient first step,” he says.
The plan change would follow the process set out in the RMA, including public notification, submissions, hearings, and final decisions.
The Hauraki Gulf Islands: Waiheke and Aotea/Great Barrier Island
The committee has also voted to initiate a plan change to make private helicopter take-offs and landings a prohibited activity in residential areas of the Hauraki Gulf Islands. To proceed, the current plan modification to the Hauraki Gulf Islands District Plan on helipads must be formally withdrawn. To initiate a new plan change requires the approval of the minister.
