Tokyo, New York… Perth? ‘Contemporary businesses need helipads’, Rinehart argues in council submission

Representatives from Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting have likened Perth to Tokyo and New York as they plead their case for a helipad on the company’s under-construction $270 million headquarters.

City of Perth officers have recommended the council knock back Hancock Prospecting’s request to include the helipad to accommodate an eight-seat Bell 429 helicopter on top of its five-storey Ord Street headquarters, which will eventually house all of Rinehart’s mining and agricultural businesses.

Gina Rinehart and an artist’s impression of Hancock Prospecting’s $270 million West Perth headquarters.

However, at an agenda briefing session on Tuesday evening, Rinehart’s representatives 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.”

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The company argued rooftop helipads were “commonplace in major and premier CBDs around the world, including New York, London and Tokyo”.

City officers have 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.

Hancock offered to reduce the morning hour the helipad could be used from 7am to 9am and change the flight path to ensure the helicopter followed existing busy roads, but the company rejected concerns about noise from the chopper, saying its own study suggested nearby main roads were noisier than the Bell 429.

“The immediate locality is already subject to the background noise of Thomas Street and Kings Park Road (very busy roads) 24/7, and noise from bin trucks, ambulances, police, fire engines and freight trucks etc, which operate in the early morning or evening (and not just daylight hours as is being proposed),” the company said.

“The noise level from our proposed helicopter (Bell 429) movement is 92dB in comparison to 106dB recorded maximum noise levels in the area already due to local traffic.”

Hancock also argued the helicopter would only generate noise at the site for two hours a year – roughly 10 minutes per landing and take-off.

The company also revealed it had been speaking to emergency services bodies to discuss the potential for them to use the helipad.

“With the building’s location right between Perth’s two major trauma hospitals, and the Perth Children’s Hospital, the helipad would provide a life-saving potential as it has the ability to serve as a crucial backup landing option for emergency services (such as Department of Fire and Emergency Services and police) and the Royal Flying Doctor Service,” it said.

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“We have entered discussions with the relevant bodies who have advised that they have aircraft in their fleet suited to use the facility.

“They have advised that they are often faced with scenarios where they cannot land at existing facilities and so any additional options could help save lives.”

City of Perth councillors will vote on the recommendation at their council meeting next week.

Hancock’s new headquarters were approved by the city in 2023 and construction is already under way.

It’s not the first time a West Australian mining billionaire’s helicopter has caused a stir among locals.

Last year, this masthead revealed Mineral Resources boss Chris Ellison’s use of a helicopter to commute to the company’s Osborne Park headquarters had raised the ire of nearby land users, and led to questions about who, exactly, had given the green light for the chopper to land opposite a wildlife sanctuary.

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