Gina Rinehart’s bid to build a helipad on Hancock Prospecting’s new West Perth headquarters has been dealt a setback, with City of Perth planners recommending against its approval.
Gina Rinehart’s bid to build a helipad on Hancock Prospecting’s new West Perth headquarters has been dealt a setback, with City of Perth planners recommending against its approval.
Council officials have recommended the bid – part of a broader effort to amend existing plans for the site at 53 Ord Street in West Perth – be knocked back on grounds related to the helipad.
Hancock had proposed to build the helipad for a maximum use of 12 times per year within daylight hours, to accommodate “occasional corporate travel” to and from the site on a Bell 429 helicopter.
The plan was put out to landowners in the cities of Perth and Subiaco, with 33 submissions received in response.
Two of those were in favour of the helipad, two offered conditional support, and 29 objected to the plan.
In addressing the proposal, the City of Perth noted caution over noise, safety and vibrations in a residential area as matters of concern.
It noted the city’s plan to increase the residential population of West Perth in the years ahead and said the presence of a helipad was incompatible with that vision.
It also flagged an inability to effectively manage the number of arrivals and departures from the helipad, and voiced concerns that the presence of the helipad would impose height restrictions on neighbouring sites.
“Whilst the proposed infrequent use of the helipad is noted, it would be difficult via associated conditions of development approval to both limit and manage such use,” the agenda said.
Hancock’s submission included a noise assessment report completed by SLR Consulting, as well as a design report by Flysafe Aviation Consulting.
The meeting agenda suggested “other approval pathways” were available to Hancock for proposed amendments not related to the helipad.
The proposal will be put to a formal council vote at a meeting tomorrow evening.
Hancock Prospecting declined to comment.
The submission of the documents by Hancock to the City of Perth in July gave greater clarity over the mining company’s $19.5 million plan for the West Perth site, where PACT Construction has been engaged to build the office.
Among the more curious details was the inclusion of a ‘cat room’ and ‘meow terrace’ on the second of the building’s five floors.
Mrs Rinehart is a long-term supporter of Cat Haven, and it’s understood the areas would accommodate staff interactions with rescue cats.
A separate, $250 million 10-storey development on Outram Street – dubbed Project Winnipeg – was unanimously approved by the Statutory Planning Committee in October in a win for Hancock’s broader plan to base itself out of West Perth.
