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.​

Video source: Mission Helicopters facebook page

While the sound of a helicopter may have many rushing to  their windows to  identify the make of the aircraft,  the majority of  people  feel an intense sense of annoyance, or more  accurately, disruption or anxiety. 
​
So, what is  it about helicopters that  is so intrusive, placing  people  and animals outside their comfort zone?​​

The answer is    Infrasound    otherwise known as  the 'fear frequency'.

It's all explained   in the following article   'The Fear Frequency'  by Mark  Pilkington ( The Guardian 6 Oct 2003) 

​​  "Have you ever wondered what a ghost sounds like?"  Engineer Vic Tandy may already know. ​"The key here is frequency: 19hz is in the range known as infrasound, below the range of human hearing, which begins at 20hz. Engineer Vic Tandy  learned that low frequencies in this region can affect humans and animals in several ways, causing discomfort, dizziness, blurred vision (by vibrating your eyeballs), hyperventilation and fear, possibly leading to panic attacks".​

A more recent investigation took place in an allegedly haunted 14th-century pub cellar in Coventry, where people have reported terrifying experiences for many years, including seeing a spectral grey lady. Here Tandy also uncovered a 19hz standing wave, adding further evidential weight to his theory.
In an interesting parallel, researchers have recorded that, prior to an attack, a tiger's roar contains frequencies of about 18hz, which might disorientate and paralyse their intended victim. Is this the sound of fear itself?"

We have uploaded  some articles of interest  on the subject here.  You can  listen to  the sound  of 20 Hertz,  the theoretical minimum frequency a human can hear.

An article     in Vertical magazine 'The science behind helicopter noise — and how the industry is working to reduce it '     identifies  "... two locales where helicopter noise seems to be a major issue. In urban areas, you have a multitude of helicopter operations: law enforcement, medical transport, local news, some business transportation, and tourism. And then there’s the more remote, scenic tourist destinations, where those on the ground object to aircraft interrupting their experience in an otherwise serene wilderness. Typically, helicopter tours are the main source of annoyance in these places.

The  majority of  this  information can be logically applied to  what is anticipated from  heliport activities on 2224 Tully  Mission Beach Road. The  Kestral Aviation  information sheet   states  " We will be predominately using our Bell 206L3 Long Ranger and Sikorsky S-76 helicopters, and on rare occasions, our Bell Medium (212 or 412) fleet when need requires (such as in response to natural disasters).  Vertical magazine informs   "...The  Bell 212 generates high levels of impulsive noise..."

The article  Dynamics of rock arches  shows  a plot of the sound spectrum generated by a two-blade Bell 206 helicopter (below).  In it you see the first frequency peak at 13 Hz with a series of overtones at integer multiples

​Thank you to Margaret Moorhouse  from ASH for sharing this information. 

At the C4 general meeting held Friday on 3rd July, the C4 theatrette was overflowing with community members interested in an update on the court appeal.
 
C4 president, Peter Rowles, recapped on the court process saying the respective parties had lodged their relevant documents  for the appeal,    and that C4’s solicitors had engaged experts in the areas of;

• helicopter operations,
•  planning, and
•  the environment.

 Links to these documents can be seen  in the column to the right and are    part of Steps 1 to 3 of the appeal process (as outlined below*).

Peter reported that although details of the Appeal could not be discussed, he could say that the parties were in discussions.
 
Peter went on to say that Mission Helicopters would have helicopter operations experts design trials to demonstrate the noise levels from the activities being planned for the Heliport site.   This forms part of the directions order within Stage 4 of the appeal process.
 
Council’s Approval for Material Change of Use (MCU) is not only for the Air services (listed below), it also allows for “other related entities operated by the Directors / Shareholders of the applicant/owner” (CCRC Planners Report 27 Jan 2021).  Given Mission Helicopters’ high profile and operational connections across the national and international aviation industry, the reality of the Council’s reprehensible MCU Approval is that Mission Helicopters’ operational possibilities are left wide open.
 
Air Services include:

• The arrival and departure of aircraft;
• The housing, servicing, refueling, maintenance and repair of aircraft;
•  The assembly and dispersal of passengers or goods on or from an aircraft;

Any ancillary activities directly serving the needs of passengers and visitors for:

• Associated training and education facilities; and
• Aviation facilities.

Associated uses including medical transfers, aerial firefighting and search and rescue operations will also be undertaken on an as required basis.

To be relevant to the Mission Helicopters Proposal, the operational trials mentioned by Peter would presumably have to include all the possible operational aspects of the above.
​
Another important consideration is what flight path will the trials be based on?
 
In the CCRC Decision Notice (27 Jan 2021) (where CCRC mistakenly refer to the applicant as Mission Beach Helicopters) the approval conditions state “. the applicant/owner ‘must ensure”…”helicopters will head directly east over the Coral Sea prior to heading towards intended destinations (emergency situations excepted) as per the Mission Beach Helicopters (sic) Approach/Departure Waypoint Flight Plan received by  Council on 14th October 2020…”  Yet the Waypoint Flight Plan received on that date (below left) shows a quite different flight path, angled considerably to the south. The actual direct east flight path (below right) shows the impact zone covers the whole of the Conch Street residential area.

* COURT APPEAL PROCESS 

STEP 1
Appeal Period Notice of Appeal filed
Within 20 business days from notice of decision
 
STEP 2
Notice of Appeal to Other Parties 10 business days from when Notice of Appeal is filed
 
STEP 3
Other Parties may elect to join appeal
10 Business Days from when they receive Notice of Appeal
 
STEP 4
Directions Order
Within six (6) weeks of filing the Notice of Appeal the Appellant must apply for directions
To apply for Directions you have to file an application with the court accompanied by affidavit material confirming that the notice of appeal was served on the relevant parties
 
(The Directions order sets out the steps that need to be completed by the parties before the matter can proceed to hearing and normally includes the following:
- Disclosure
- Confirmation of issues in dispute & request for particulars
- Mediation
- Meeting of experts
- Preparation of expert reports
- Continued case management of appeals by court
- when the matter will be set down for hearing 

STEP 5
Hearing of Appeal
If the parties cannot reach agreement to settle the appeal after the
directions have been complied with, the matter can be set down for
hearing    

The  Friends of Ninney Rise  periodical newsletter (Click below) has a focus on planning following the  Mission Beach heliport  approval decision. 

"This is what the assessment process has come to" said Liz "The public   input during the consultation process is ignored, the planning scheme is ignored,  and the  planning department  recommendation is  skewed  in favour of the developer. The council will  then use  public funds to defend  themselves against any  appeal against the decision. A 'win win' for the developer and a 'lose lose' for the  community and public expectation of a  fair due process". said Liz. 

 “All of this angst could have avoided by the council sticking to their planning scheme and working in the public, not the developer’s interest said Liz. The helicopter facility belongs at one of the designated air services facilities in the Cassowary Coast".

The Community For Coastal and Cassowary Conservation (C4) has filed an appeal in the Planning and Environment court against the helicopter development approval.

Mission Beach Cassowaries is helping raise funds for the appeal. Please go to nohelicoptershere gofundme if you would like to help.
Ends

More information
Liz Gallie
Mission Beach Cassowaries
​0414402315

Pedro O’Connor
Australian Inbound - Private Epic Journeys
0418 113 227

It has been  confirmed. The people and the cassowary are of no interest to the State government and the cassowary and the World Heritage  areas are of no significance to the Federal  government.

First they take no notice  when the  council  puts together a shoddy planning report clearly skewed in favour of the developer and when it is bought to the Federal and State  governments attention by  hundreds of people they   say it is not of interest or of no significance.

The Federal Environment Department informed us   on 4th March "  I can confirm that the consultant working on behalf of Mission Helicopters Pty Ltd responded to the department advising that Mission Helicopters Pty Ltd is aware of its obligations under the EPBC Act but is focusing on finalising the Local Council processes at this point in time".
 Minister Ley  confirms in her response to our 'call in' request,  "The company has advised it is aware of its obligations under the EPBC Act  and will seek  advice  from the department when appropriate. "

The State Minister for Infrastructure and Planning/local government   has  decided against  using his power to call in the development for reassessment. He informs us   the  appropriate place for any community concerns to be heard  is in a costly court appeal. ,    "This is a reserve power that is used only in exceptional circumstances. In this instance, there are no state interests impacted by the development which would warrant my involvement. The Planning and Environment Court is an appropriate forum to examine any issues relating to the technical assessment of this application.

It's all in the  letters below.

The ordinary people, the ones  the governments are  supposed to be  working for, have been dismissed.
​

Wet Tropic Times
​Feb  26 2021