Helicopter noise trials carried out at 2224 Tully Mission Beach Road

Helicopter noise trials were carried out at  the proposed helicopter development site  in Mission Beach during the middle of the day on Wed  28th October as per the  Court order issued on September 3rd.  

Kestrel Aviation boss Ray Cronin who   owns Mission Helicopters, piloted  the two  aircraft  used in the trials;  a Bell 206 Long Ranger and the smaller Robinson which is currently used for passenger transfers to and from Bedarra Island. ​

Bell 206 Long Ranger                                                                                                                          Robinson - Bedarra passenger transfer helicopter

Representatives from both sides of the  court appeal against the helicopter development approval were present to observe the trials including the CCRC Planner Byron Jones who wrote  the Planning Department reports during the development assessment process.

C4 president  Peter Rowles and committee member Ian Shankley were at the front of  2224 Tully Mission Beach Road with  the independent acoustic expert  while vice president and committee members Helen and Jeff Larson observed from the mouth of  Wongaling (Porters) Creek under the flight path. 
​
Acoustic recording devises were placed strategically at either end of the fenced development area  as well as  at houses  within the impact zone.   

C4 President Peter Rowles with independent noise expert at 2224 Tully Mission Beach Road during the helicopter noise trials.

Mission Helicopter's noise level meter at southern corner of the development site.

​It was made clear the noise trials   were only concerned with  impact on residents so it was disappointing the community was not  informed of the trial date and time.  Noise levels from any model  helicopter  on a designated flight path are known or can be  calculated, so it could have added weight to a fair assessment to give opportunity for   feedback from  residents within the noise impact zone. The trials  were not concerned with any noise impacts on  the bike path or the beach or the environment.

We were told   the appeal process has made the whole  council approval null and void. "That a lot has changed since then. Such as  the  aircraft now being proposed for the development is the Bell Long Ranger and the Robinson". With little or no  information being shared with the community we must  trust  that any 'negotiations' or 'agreements' during the  appeal  proceedings are from  a firm position of 'No Helicopters Here'. 

Takeoff of Bell Long Ranger flight number 4

 Residents feedback
We were alerted  to the trials by a Conch Street resident during the third of    four   Bell 206 Long Ranger    flights  from the development site. The video above is of the  last flight takeoff.    Residents in Conch Street,  Oasis and residential subdivision south of Marcs Park  reported  intrusive  noise during the trials. A recording taken by a resident at  Shelly Court registered   65.9 db at  11.56am and 87.3db at 11.58 during the Bell 206 flight.   As another  Mission Beach resident  observed..." that is   loud band level".

A homeowner  in Conch Street described the sound of the smaller Robinson aircraft as "loud and   intrusive,  similar to the Bell."    The resident who enjoys living next to  the rainforest  and identifying the sounds of the birds  said after the helicopter  flew past there was no bird sound for  about   15 to 20 minutes.

​Another   resident  on the western end of Conch Street   said the noise was unacceptable. He is  devastated to think there is a possibility this could be  the norm. 
​
A resident in Huchison Street  said    she could hear the constant noise from inside and outside her house  and is furious this Council approved  what she describes as  "this abomination" without a properly conducted Environmental Impact Study"

The graphic shows the locations of the above feedback to the north  of the flight path and assumes  the helicopters were using the  path provided to the CCRC as mentioned in approval Condition no 7.

A facebook user commented  "Helicopters are loud. Full stop. Everybody knows this, especially when taking off and landing, there should be no landing pads or flight paths any where near residency or nature sanctuary".

​Community members  have questioned   why the trials were carried out during    the hottest time of the day.    While   sound moves faster in warm air than colder air, the wave bends away from the warm air and back toward the ground. That's why sound is able to travel farther in cooler weather.  Was this taken into account by both parties within the ''agreed approach' for the trials?    Mr Cronin would be well aware of the nuances of helicopter sound.

 CASA explained
The public might be under the false understanding  the  Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has some control over noise levels or impacts on people or the environment.  CASA has no remit in land development application approvals and/or the process of aircraft permissions in using the facilities.   CASA's responsibility under civil aviation legislation is to oversee aviation safety. 
 
 CASA does not regulate aircraft noise and/or environment impacts.  It is usually a matter managed within the land development application with impact statements.     The council could, or better,  should  have made this a  requirement of  the Development Application (DA) but dodged it by claiming they only have no responsibility  once a  helicopter is in the air. While CASA cannot enforce fly friendly agreements they encourage consideration by council authorities and with the helipad operator and local residents. No such agreement was considered as part of  the helicopter development assessment process.

Further, CASA does not  have any jurisdiction over where  helicopters  can fly . The pilot must determine the safest route in landing and take-off,  depending on conditions at the time.  The helipad/heliport operator generally specifies operating procedures for aircraft using the landing site, and this will include flight paths relevant to safe routes and can be in consideration of impacts of aircraft with sensitive areas, such as national park and residential areas.  This means  a specific flight path is not enforceable which leaves in question how  the full potential noise impact can be accurately  gauged.

  Increased helicopter activity at Mission Beach
Meanwhile, since Mission Helicopters has been promoting scenic tours operating from Tully aerodrome, residents  from South Mission Beach to Brooks Beach   are reporting an increase in helicopter   activity  around the region.    Island Reef Helicopters  has been observed flying noisily along the beach close to the water disturbing Red-tailed black cockatoos. 

Residents at Brooks Beach report helicopter movements regularly, using no particular flight path; sometimes over land, sometimes directly overhead and other times following the coastline over the sea. The helicopter used in the noise trial video (above) was identified  flying "quite low'  directly over houses along Brooks Beach  on the day of the trial.

It seems  there isn't a day without  helicopter activity at Mission Beach. Under any circumstances  helicopters  are intrusive and destroy the   normally quiet peaceful ambience Mission Beach is known for.

Helicopter flying over Bingil Bay

During the court appeal process, there is no room  for compromise   from  the position  of NO HELIPORT at   2224 Tully Mission Beach Road    An      agreement to allow   any     helicopter business to operate from the site  is simply the first  'foot in the door' to  future applications for variations and increased use.

The appeal will be reviewed on 3 December 2021.​

LG
​MBC