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The community is understandably anxious that a helicopter base in the heart of Mission Beach might be a 'done deal' given all the activity on the approved development site lately. But that is NOT the case! While the appellants of the court appeal against the helicopter development approval are playing their cards close to their chest, the co respondent is going for a different tactic.
A fence has now been erected around the proposed site and a new "Your Mission Starts Here" sign installed announcing helicopter tours. What is the purpose of this overt promotion of helicopter services while the appeal is still in the court? Is this a show of contempt for the community who oppose the development or is it just plain insensitivity? When the Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Dr Steven Miles declined the community's request to use his 'call in' powers to reassess the development, he said "the Planning and Environment Court is the appropriate forum to examine any issues relating to the technical assessment of this application". The community must accept and respect this current legal process for development assessments.
Respect for process doesn't appear to be a priority for Mission Helicopters. Apparently the large advertising sign went up without a permit. The Council has given the landowner 20 business days from 28 September 2021 to either lodge the appropriate development application (a code assessable operational works application for an advertising device) or remove the sign. 
The current appeal situation
Proposed helicopter flight trial 1. On or before 7 October 2021, the acoustic experts will meet to determine the terms of reference, minimum requirements, methodology and reporting for the proposed helicopter flight trial [“agreed approach”]. 2. On or before 29 October 2021, the proposed helicopter flight trial will occur pursuant to the agreed approach. 3. On or before 22 November 2021, the data obtained from the proposed helicopter flight trial will be analysed pursuant to the agreed approach and the acoustic experts will provide to the parties’ solicitors a copy of their reporting pursuant to the agreed approach. Review 4. The appeal will be reviewed on 3 December 2021.
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Community opposition is not limited to the acoustic impacts the developer might admit to. In any case, the integrity of the acoustic testing depends on the integrity of the developer and his application - and we’ve already lost faith in that. We don’t have any faith that the limitations he’s agreed with the Council will not be exceeded once his business is installed. Remember the Application and the boat washing facility included in the fine print? So he’s not likely to disclose future bigger aircraft he’s actually got in mind: why would he invite further community opposition? All the community can know is that C4 and the developer have now agreed to “an approach” to acoustic testing; this being a negotiated outcome, there must be something in this “approach” for the developer (or he wouldn’t have agreed to it), presumably his opportunity to produce a rosy picture of noise impacts or of mitigation measures. Given the size and tentacles of Mission Helicopters and related business, it would be prudent to guess he’s done all this before. Within the limits of the “agreed approach”, C4 and the developer have further agreed to prepare terms of reference for the acoustic testing; ie they have agreed to limits as to what and how helicopter “noise” will be measured, and under what conditions. We have no information about these tor, nor what expert advice went into them, but we can be sure the MH knows all about this stuff - after all, it’s his business. See invitation below to contact C4 for more information. Margaret Moorhouse Alliance to Save Hinchinbrook (ASH) 
ORDER Before His Honour Judge Morzone QC Date of Hearing: 3 September 2021 Date of Order: 3 September 2021 IT IS ORDERED THAT: Proposed helicopter flight trial 1. On or before 7 October 2021, the acoustic experts will meet to determine the terms of reference, minimum requirements, methodology and reporting for the proposed helicopter flight trial [“agreed approach”]. 2. On or before 29 October 2021, the proposed helicopter flight trial will occur pursuant to the agreed approach. 3. On or before 22 November 2021, the data obtained from the proposed helicopter flight trial will be analysed pursuant to the agreed approach and the acoustic experts will provide to the parties’ solicitors a copy of their reporting pursuant to the agreed approach. Review 4. The appeal will be reviewed on 3 December 2021. Video source: Mission Helicopters facebook page
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Please show your support
Sign the petition 
Call to the Hon Tanya Plibersek to call in helicopter development for proper assessment
This website is managed by Mission Beach Cassowaries inc to share information about the No Helicopters Here campaign against the approval of A HELICOPTER BASE on 2224 Tully Mission Beach Road.
https://www.change.org/Consider-Mission-Beach-Residents-Amenity-Wildlife
Post your helicopter sightings on the No Helicopters Here facebook page
Court appeal chronology
28th February 2022.
C4 entered into a compromise settlement with Mission Helicopters. The appeal did not proceed to a court hearing. 
3rd December 2021
The appeal was reviewed. Judge Morzone ordered (above) the appellant (C4) to provide a list of matters they wish to be considered for inclusion in the proposed conditions attached to any approval of the development application. 
3rd September 2021
Order (above) made by his Honour Judge Morzone QC. Appeal review listed for 3 December 2021 
6th August 2021
Court ordered MH to respond to C4 correspondence by August 15th. Appeal review listed for 3rd September. 
3rd June 2021
Grounds on which Mission Helicopters, as co respondent , defended the appeal . 
5th Mar 2021
C4 filed to appeal the Heliport approval decision Archives
September 2022
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