2 months ago
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The City of Perth has knocked back a request by mining billionaire Gina Rinehart to build a helicopter pad at her company Hancock Prospecting’s $270 million headquarters.
Despite two councillors backing the proposal, and Perth’s lord mayor describing Rinehart as an “amazing Australian”, the council sided with city officers’ recommendation and refused the application 6-2 during Tuesday night’s meeting.
Gina Rinehart and an artist’s impression of Hancock Prospecting’s $270 million West Perth headquarters.
Councillor Adam Pacan moved an alternate motion, telling the meeting he was a qualified pilot and “could speak on several of the concerns” raised.
Pacan told the meeting the flight paths would affect the neighbouring City of Subiaco more than Perth, nearby building heights would not be affected, and reiterated only about one flight a month would land at the helipad.
Councillor Catherine Lezer seconded the alternate motion, encouraging councillors to “welcome investment”.
“The City of Perth is more YIMBY than NIMBY. We’re committed to economic growth, and the data we’ve provided is pretty simple,” she said.
“As councillor Pagan said, the proposed use is a maximum of 12 times per year, and in daylight hours only.
“Let’s approve this investment. Let’s make sure the City of Perth is always seen as a thriving and adaptable centre for commerce.”
Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds told the meeting Rinehart was an “amazing Australian”, but in this case he would side with the administration due to the technical safety and environmental issues raised.
The original motion to reject the helipad passed 6-2, with Reynolds, Deputy Lord Mayor David Goncalves, and councillors Liam Gobbert, Lisa Ma, Viktor Ko and Raj Doshi voting for the motion.
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Pacan and Lezer voted against the motion.
Rinehart had applied to include the helipad to accommodate an eight-seat Bell 429 helicopter on top of Hancock’s five-storey Ord Street headquarters in West Perth, which will eventually house all of Rinehart’s mining and agricultural businesses.
Hancock has argued the pad would only be used 12 times a year and the Bell 429 would only generate noise in the West Perth area for about 5 minutes during landing and 5 minutes during take-off.
But city officers recommended the council refuse the helipad on the grounds it would “have an adverse impact on the amenity of surrounding residential land uses” and the noise impacts could not be mitigated.
“The proposed development is likely to have an adverse impact on the amenity of the adjoining properties and the locality as outlined in the written objections received from the surrounding owners and occupiers,” officers said in a briefing ahead of Tuesday night’s meeting.
At an agenda briefing session last week, representatives for Hancock argued the helicopter was essential for Hancock’s business and that Perth’s status as a “global city” came with “contemporary needs for globally connected businesses”.
“The proposed helipad is a contemporary requirement for a business such as Hancock Iron Ore (Roy Hill and Atlas Iron) supporting high-level executive and corporate operations,” the company said in its submission to council.
“This is part of its multimillion-dollar investment into WA, building a world-leading business hub in West Perth and aligns with the City of Perth Future Perth initiative, which supports development of our city as a premier international business destination with a focus on growing opportunities and is therefore a strategic fit in the future plans.”
The company argued rooftop helipads were “commonplace in major and premier CBDs around the world, including New York, London and Tokyo”.
Hancock offered to reduce the morning hour the helipad would be used from 7am to 9am and change the flight path to ensure the helicopter followed existing busy roads.
The company rejected concerns about noise from the chopper, saying an independent study it commissioned found nearby main roads were noisier than the Bell 429.
Hancock’s new headquarters were approved by the city in 2023 and construction is already under way.
Hancock Prospecting has been contacted for comment.
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