WTF: Mystery helipad and shrinking carparks

It’s a floating facility for flying machines that’s abruptly appeared back on our bay. But why?

WTF

They’re the little – and sometimes not so little – things that can really irk us. We’ve asked the people of Geelong to point out the problems that irritate and exasperate and have us all saying, woah, that’s frustrating!

WHAT THE HELI IS GOING ON?

Helicopter travel is normally the preserve of the elite – royalty, tycoons and senior government officials.

But a lonely floating helipad that’s appeared on Corio Bay in Geelong’s north, looks a little less, well, high end.

The weathered metal structure sits on rusted pontoons and is held in place by two ropes, one tied to a very ordinary wooden post on the shoreline. It’s not what anyone would describe as high security.

A VIP headed in on a chartered chopper might cough up their caviar when they see their designated landing zone, if it is still there and not in the possession of an enterprising thief with a pair of scissors.

And while the structure does not appear to be for billionaires or sports stars, it does have links to Ronaldo. Oops, sorry, no, that’s Rinaldo.

WTF: Floating helipad pad in Corio Bay

The pad is floating near the Alan Rinaldo Dias jetty in North Geelong.

This isn’t the first time the mystery pad has made an appearance and – like a set of rotor blades – there have been a few twists and turns in this tale.

The pad made its first appearance in 2019. And it was quite the quest to discover its origins.

On that occasion, the structure appeared near Cunningham Pier.

When asked about in 2020, the City of Greater Geelong referred inquiries on the helipad to Parks Victoria.

Parks Victoria said it was not in a position to answer questions, referring inquiries to the Port of Geelong.

However, the port was also none the wiser on who owned the helipad and its intended use.

Further inquiries finally revealed the helipad was owned by Microflite Helicopter Services, which operates from Moorabbin Airport.

It said the helipad was relocated from North Wharf on the Yarra River.

A company spokesman confirmed the helipad was being stored in Corio Bay as a temporary measure.

Well, we reached out to Microflite again and they told us it had since been sold.

Parks Victoria sent us to the City of Greater Geelong, which confirmed it was now

property of Elstone Diving Services, which said the helipad was stuck in its current location after the mooring lines were let go, causing it to drift to its current resting place.

The company has a plan for the vessel this summer, one which this masthead is unable to reveal just yet, however they are currently waiting on the “right tide” to be able to move it.

Carparks in Geelong West are shrinking ... as cars get much bigger.

PAINTING PINT-SIZED PARKS

Cars are getting bigger, much bigger. Hatchbacks and sedans are making way for SUVs and monster utes.

Seems someone forgot to tell Geelong’s council though.

It has decided to make the carparks on a Geelong West street smaller. So narrow, in fact, that ordinary vehicles, never mind their more hefty brethren, cannot possibly fit.

The parking lines on Yuille St have been re-marked and they are considerably more snug than their predecessors.

Perhaps authorities are trying to encourage drivers to slim down – like a bride buying a dress a few sizes small as motivation. Perhaps if the cars breathe in they’ll fit.

James Stirton, council’s executive director of city infrastructure, said changes to parking bay line marking in local streets off Pakington Street were implemented in 2020.

“These bays were intentionally made narrower, to promote better parking behaviour and encourage drivers to park closer to the kerb, allowing for better traffic flow along these narrow streets,” he said.

Originally published as WTF: Mystery helipad and shrinking carparks