Tourist operator plans balloon viewing platform for Ayers Rock Resort, Uluru

TOURISTS would get a bird's eye view of Uluru from a tethered helium balloon in a proposal from Ayers Rock Resort.

Uluru from the air. Picture: Voyages Tours/Sails Resort

TOURISTS would get a bird's eye view of Uluru from a tethered helium balloon in a proposal from Ayers Rock Resort.

The balloon, called Skyflyer, would give "visitors a unique viewing platform of Uluru and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) as a safe alternative experience to climbing Uluru," a project application to the Federal Government says.

The project is being proposed by Astrosphere in partnership with Voyages Indigenous Tourism, the rock's principal tourism operator.

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Astrosphere intends to fly the balloon eight times a day for 30-minute flights, it says in a submission made yesterday to the Federal Government under environmental protection laws.

"Passengers will board the gondola and ascend to around 150m above ground," the proposal says. "From there they will enjoy spectacular 360 degree panoramic views."

The launch site is about 10km from Uluru, outside the national park, on freehold property owned by the Indigenous Land Corporation, a federal statutory authority.

The proposal says offering a balloon flight as an alternative to climbing the rock would "enhance cultural awareness and respect indigenous law and culture to not climb Uluru".

"The proposed action will help facilitate the management plan's objective in moving towards closure of the climb," it says.

Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, the Federal Government will consider what issues the project will need to satisfy.