OTR owners Peregrine Corporation say Kensington helipad would ensure a “pleasurable experience” for business guests
OTR owners Peregrine say its proposed Kensington helipad would be a boon for the local economy and key to providing guests’ a “pleasurable experience”, according to an environmental impact report.
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A proposed helipad on top of OTR owner Peregrine Corporation’s new seven-storey $50 million Kensington headquarters is key to providing a “pleasurable experience” for business guests – and for showing off South Australia.
A new environmental impact report – commissioned by Peregrine which includes input from international aviation consultants Flight Safety Group – is out now for public comment until March 13.
In the report, Peregrine say the helipad would be an “integral component of the overall redevelopment of the site and will greatly assist Peregrine in the conduct of its business operations”.
Peregrine is currently working on detailed designs for its new headquarters on The Parade and demolition and construction is expected to begin in early to mid-2020.
“The need for quick, accessible transport is paramount to ensuring a pleasurable experience for overseas and interstate business guests,” the report reads.
“Helicopters will transport interstate and business guests to key Peregrine sites of state importance including the Peregrine headquarters and the Tailem Bend Motorsport Park Complex.
“The flow on effect of this service is expected to be beneficial to the South Australian economy.
“Visitations are expected to be infrequent however each visitation is crucial in securing more
business and retaining head office operations in this state.”
Peregrine says in its report that any environmental impacts from the helipad are “likely to be limited to noise and air emissions associated with the occasional helicopter movements to and from the site”.
It also says the height of the seven-storey building would “significantly reduce noise levels”, with the loudest period estimated to be during the “hover and takeoff” phases.
Consultant Air Quality Professionals says helicopters would not impact local air quality.
The helipad would be in accordance with modern hospital helipads currently in use across the country, the report reads.
Peregrine want to fly helicopters from its headquarters no more than 10 days a year and only between 7am and 10pm.
Plans include an aluminium, prefabricated helipad and an adjacent concrete slab as an “informal/temporary landing site in the event of an emergency”.
However, the helipad would only be installed once the new seven-story headquarters is built, slated for a late-2021 completion date.
Peregrine say choppers would be chartered from South Australian operators and would not be stored, fuelled or serviced on site.
The company says “where possible”, 24 hours notice would be provided before choppers are operational and a register would be kept to ensure 10 days are not exceeded each year.
The start up and departure would take up to ten minutes to complete.
It would also take under ten minutes for engine shutdown and passengers to depart a helicopter.
Three types of choppers are proposed to be used: the BELL 206 (maximum of four passengers); the EC 130 (six passengers) and the AW109/H109 (seven passengers).
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Flight Centre chief executive officer Colin Weir said there should be no restrictions to the helipad’s approval from a “safety, design or positioning perspective”.
Peregrine say if the helipad is rejected, its business operations would be affected, especially with “interstate and overseas stakeholders”.
It will respond to public comment after March 13.
The report can be viewed at: saplanningportal.sa.gov.au/public_notices