Cecil Peak Station Ltd is seeking resource consent for up to 7250 commercial helicopter landings a year across seven sites, providing landings for all helicopter operators within the Lakes District.
The resource consent application said it aimed to formalise what had been occurring on the site for many years, providing flights for recreation and sightseeing.
The subject site comprised pastoral lease and freehold land, totalling more than 13,400ha and consent was sought for up to 25 landings per day at The Ledge, George Spur, Garden Spur, Island Spur (Half Wits Beat), Bayonet Peak and the Collins Bay Homestead, with up to 30 landings a day at Rock Garden - the higher limit catering for an annual rock concert.
Annually, up to 5000 landings would occur at The Ledge, 750 at Island Spur, 500 at Garden Spur and up to 250 at the remaining sites.
A landing included both landing and take-off, and would include trips for filming, commercial recreation and scenic flights.
''Although there are no existing use rights for helicopters landing at Cecil Peak, other than for farming purposes, it is recognised that The Ledge is one of the most popular scenic flight destinations in the district and that helicopters have been landing there for many years,'' the application said.
''The visual effects from helicopters landing on Cecil Peak are insignificant as the viewing distance from Queenstown or the closest occupied areas is so great and the landscape is so vast that even though landings have occurred there for many years it is very difficult to distinguish a helicopter on site.''
The types of helicopters would vary, but it was likely new helicopters would become quieter so the consent should provide for new models of helicopters.
Operators would be required to undertake their operation to the best industry standards to ensure minimal noise level and disturbance to other users of the environment, including descending over noise-sensitive areas; ascending over less sensitive areas; avoiding turns over sensitive areas; and using the lowest power settings that still provide safe operation.
No refuelling would occur at proposed landing sites and pilots would check their clients' equipment, for example, boots and bags, to ensure no weeds were being transported in to the areas.
While the sites were located within the Outstanding Natural Landscape District Wide category, it was considered the landings would not compromise the integrity of the category.
''It is considered that due to the isolation of the landings within Cecil Peak, any effects will be internalised within the site.
''Any effects beyond the site are insignificant.''
