FRUSTRATED Altona residents are ready for round two of what they describe as a David and Goliath battle to stop a helicopter flying over their homes near Burbank Business Park.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing from 7–9 May will determine whether a Burbank Homes helicopter is able to take off and land for a maximum of five times a week, from a car park on the site.
It is the second showdown between residents and one of Victoria’s largest builders, after Hobsons Bay City Council rejected its original planning application last July.
A spokesman said the council was hopeful its decision would be upheld.
The original application was rejected on the grounds it was “contrary to the orderly planning of the area”, detrimental to residents and migratory birds and their habitat.
The closest residents live 130 metres from the site and believe the helipad would lower their quality of life.
“People living here have young babies and animals – this is not an airport,” nearby resident, Tracey Hanson of Galvin St, said.
“We hate the idea of a noisy helicopter taking off and landing near our homes.”
Ms Hanson said her nine-month-old woke up screaming on each of the four occasions a helicopter took off and landed during recent Environment Protection Authority noise pollution tests.
“It hurts their ears,” she said.
Another Galvin St resident, Peter Rice, said he was concerned for endangered wildlife at nearby Truganina Swamp.
“It can’t be good for the (Skipper) Butterfly, or the native birds, which make their homes at Truganina swamp and the water treatment plant,” Mr Rice said.
Mr Rice said he was also worried that most helicopter crashes occur either just after take-off or just before landing.
The initial proposal attracted many objections and community lobbyists Hobsons Bay Community First (HBCF) was involved in a campaign to stop the helipad.
HBCF spokesman Tony Briffa said most of the residents have lived locally for many years, and were “justifiably angry” because they did not invest in homes adjacent to an airport.
“Burbank pride themselves on building communities and lifestyles but they have ignored the effects this proposed helipad will have on the neighbouring residents and their quality of life,” he said.
“Why can’t they use the facilities at established aerodromes such as Point Cook (only 10 minutes away) or Essendon Airport (about 25 minutes away via the Ring Road)?”
Burbank Homes were contacted, but did not respond to our calls before deadline.
