In an interview with rural reporter Charlie McKillop on ABC Far North radio this morning,   Mr Cronin said "The funny part about this application is it is solely about erection of buildings on the site,  nothing to do with helicopters".  

Why  then, was the  development application  a Material Change of Use   to include air services?  Why did the council condition the number of helicopters on the site, the hours of operation and the flight path if the application had nothing to do with helicopters?  The community certainly doesn't think there is anything funny about this application. 

Mr Cronin also said  the community had their chance to have a say during the comment period.  The community spoke with a strong voice  when a     high number of  submissions were lodged against the DA.   Community concerns were not only ignored but the councillors were ordered by the then CEO not to talk to their own constituents, the very people who voted them to be their representatives.  One councillor claimed he could not discuss the application claiming conflict of interest.  A  culture of separation emerged between council representatives and the public  with   flippant behaviour    bordering on contempt by some councillors. ​

We are being told by Mr Cronin that it's too late  to object to his proposal  since the gate's closed and the horse has bolted.  He emphasises he has legal approval.  There is a difference between legal and proper.   Governments on all levels have failed the Mission Beach community forcing them  into a costly court battle,   perhaps  ill equipped  to take on  legally enforceable negotiations    with a wealthy developer who has made it clear he is not interested in doing anything  to address their concerns unless he is forced to.   

In defending his position, Mr Cronin added, "Quite frankly if I hadn’t done it someone else would have. There is already helicopter activity right in town,  we are taking a responsible approach by placing it between the towns". Based on Mr Cronin's argument we might as well all start importing fentanyl because if we don't, someone else will. 
​
 Referring to the  compromise reached between C4 and himself during the court appeal mediation, Mr Cronin claimed "We are taking a far more responsible approach to noise mitigation than other people are."   In    the absence of   regulations    covering helicopter activity in Queensland, C4 and Mr Cronin  agreed to use the noise levels in Victorian regulation as a benchmark  in the trials carried out at Mission Beach.  

 Aircraft noise is gauged  against  ambient noise of an area. We have not been able to establish exactly what the regulations are for Victoria or where in Victoria the comparison is being made  but it would be safe to say the environment would be vastly different than the high biodiversity of the Mission Beach environs.   

​C4 has entered into a legally binding agreement  determining 'acceptable' noise levels with an expert  who would be fully aware of how much noise a helicopter makes. The agreement was made    without  any consultation with  residents during the negotiations. 

 Charlie McKillop concluded the process must have been tortuous for  Mr Cronin. Does that mean  Mr Cronin is  a victim  instead of a wealthy businessman who has got his own way,  against the public interest?  It may be tortuous for  Mr  Cronin but  it continues to be  torturous for the community and their unknown future.​

Mr Cronin is the sole beneficiary of a proposal that has already caused social division and continues to cause ongoing anxiety and stress within our community. An industrial aerodrome at 2224 Tully Mission Beach Road will have an irreversible impact on our community’s sense of place and wellbeing.​

​

During  his   presentation,    Mr Cronin claimed his business will help the community but his actions show  his  interests lie  in what is allowed by law, not the legitimate needs of the local community. 

Mr Cronin made it  clear  the court had approved  his development adding there was now no further legal avenue of appeal  .

"It might be legal but that doesn't mean it is moral, ethical or acceptable to the residents of Mission Beach who have an expectation they can live in peace and quiet and not be disturbed by noisy intrusive helicopter activity". said Ms Gallie.  "Legal processes are easily available to a wealthy developer to intimidate the local community into putting up with the unacceptable"

"Wooing the public with  a promise of  local benefits  through tourism transfers  from Cairns and Townsville to Dunk Island and Bedarra and a feel good focus on emergency services  belies the true impact Mission Helicopters aerodrome will have on our small community". 

​Mission  Helicopers is not a boutique business servicing our nature sensitive  tourist  town. said Ms Gallie. "  In Mr Cronins 'DNA' as he puts it, is  the ability to   establish    Kestrel  Aviation, one of Australia's largest fleets of specialist multi-role helicopters in Australia. 

This trojan horse will be bringing  all the  helicopter  activities in  the following list, with work for;

• Utilities
• Power
• Water catchment
• Land management
• Construction
• Survey and
• other helicopter related activities
• AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) 

• JRCC  (Joint Rescue Coordination Centre) as well as  
• Disaster response.

Given this extensive list of  helicopter activites   made legal  through the court order, it is difficult  to understand what was meant in   C4's media release following their withdrawal   from the appeal when President Peter Rowles  said: “We were not able to stop the helicopter base altogether but we were able to secure some more favourable conditions governing its operation". ​

The Air Services Noise and complaints information service     know how disturbing helicopter activity is  but  concede that no law or regulations exists to limit any type of aviation activity.   This fact was established during the appeal negotiations between C4 and Mission Helicopters and highlighted in Mr Cronins presentation.
 
The negotiations relied on the willingness of each party to reach an agreement. The community expectation was any agreement would only be acceptable if it addressed their well voiced concerns. Failing a suitable mediation outcome, it was believed the appeal would continue to a court hearing.
 
The outcome was not what the community was looking for. The appeal against the Council’s approval was withdrawn in favour of a negotiated agreement.  The approval and conditions were based on an agreed  noise level and other compromises during the mediation.
 
How much noise do Robinson 444 and Bell Long Ranger helicopters make? "Most certainly Mr Cronin knows" said Ms Gallie. "Who was responsible for establishing the noise level the trials were assessed against"?   "Who decided the noise level generated from either of the two medium size helicopters used in the trials and now allowed to operate from 2224 Tully Mission Beach Road was acceptable"?   "Why was Mr Cronin allowed to pilot the helicopters during the trials"?

"Who was responsible for the decision that 120 helicopter take offs and landings anytime of any day in the heart of Mission Beach was acceptable"?
 
These questions  go unanswered as the community was not involved or consulted during the negotiations nor did the conditions agreed to and ordered by the court address the community concerns. The matter was not taken to court.  

One of the court ordered conditions is the flight path. Flight paths cannot be enforced as they are determined by the pilot and dependant on weather conditions at the time. Likewise, it is left to the heliport operator to consider any impacts on sensitive areas such as national park and residential areas.   Mr Cronin has not acknowledged or made any attempt to address these community concerns. 

Mr Cronin is aware of the social division and ongoing anxiety and stress his proposal has caused to members of the community.
 
The   petition    asking Mr Cronin to please fly elsewhere now has 314 signatures. The petition  comments explain  the community concerns.
 
If Mr Cronin has a commitment to the community as he claims, why did he avoid questions at the MBCA meeting and why has he not responded to our  open letter?

2224 Tully Mission Beach Rd  is  a strategic rehabilitation area most suited to  a property buy back to establish a robust cassowary corridor  and allowing opportunity for the  rural land to be developed  appropriately, for example, a  high value niche cropping/ farm tourism venture. 
 

LG
​Mission Beach Cassowaries
No Helicopters Here campaign
[email protected] 

UNHAPPY LOCAL RESIDENTS SPEAK UP
“Local residents are speaking up” Ms Gallie said.  “They fear loss of their community’s sense of identity, which depends on the low-key village atmosphere. Decades of consistent feedback from the community have highlighted the special amenity, character and natural environment of Mission Beach”.

New arrivals Robyn and Tony Pembroke moved to Mission Beach from ‘overdeveloped’ Byron Bay, believing they were buying into a peaceful neighbourhood. They had not been advised of the helicopter plans. “It’s unfair to expect residents to accept the noise of a helicopter operation right in the middle of town” said Robyn. “Helicopter noise is extremely loud, unpleasant and intrusive and needs to be well away from houses, especially at a place like Mission Beach”.

Another new resident, who did not wish to be named, had bought a house lot next to the rainforest.  “I was devastated” she said.  “we bought next to the reserve thinking it would be a quiet nature block – we had no idea we’d be next to a helicopter aerodrome! We saved up for this block- it was to be our first home. Now we don’t know what to do. It’s right under the flight path”.

Ends

Mission Beach ‘No Helicopters Here’ campaign supporters
[email protected]
www.nohelicoptershere.com