Let’s save a spot in our cities for the chopper

Helicopter transport is dangerously close to being squeezed out of our inner urban areas.

Former MP catch up

Planes, trains, bikes, cars and even ferries — we are hearing a lot about transport infrastructure in Australia lately. But there is one mode of transport dangerously close to being squeezed out of our inner urban areas.

Helicopter transport has been part of the fabric of our capital cities since the days Reg Ansett used to fly to work from his Mount Eliza home and land on the floating helipad on the Yarra in Melbourne. In recent years, helicopter transport has morphed from a James Bond-inspired vehicle for the uber wealthy to a relatively ­affordable option for business people and tourists where time is of the essence.

Whether it’s transport from the airport to the CBD for business or a special event visiting a Yarra Valley winery, Saffire Lodge, Wolgan Valley, the Gold Coast or the Melbourne Cup, it is clear there has been exponential growth in people choosing to spend a bit more to get to their destination above the traffic ­congestion below.

As cities grow, those things not compatible with inner-city living come under pressure — be they late night live music venues or helicopter flight paths. In Melbourne, the city council is negotiating voluntary “fly neighbourly” agreements between residents and helicopter operators. There are just two small helipads in the central city on the Yarra River, operated by private companies.

One of them is on a lease that runs out in 2018. Apartment construction is booming and with it comes the risk the helipad facilities will disappear.

There are numerous helicopter operators who could expand tourism markets into regional areas, if they had access to a central city heliport.

Compared with Melbourne other capital cities are not so lucky — there are few helipad locations close to the CBDs of our other capital cities.

The time has come for our capital cities to designate specific areas for helicopters to land in CBDs and ensure these rights are protected into the future.

Modern helicopters make little noise — as soon as you notice them they are gone.

In Melbourne there are flightpaths along the Yarra River that have been used for more than half a century by helicopters with a perfect safety record. Melbourne’s CBD could accommodate a multi-pad heliport at the Turning Basin and another at the rear of Federation Square.

This would open up the industry to the sporting precinct and the central leisure district at Southbank, while providing two options to accommodate people visiting Melbourne for business.

The Port of Melbourne or Docklands are other options.

Similarly all our capital cities located on waterways could provide the safe flight paths and helipad locations to secure this mode of transport into the future.

In London and New York there are purpose-built public heliports available for use by all aviation businesses. Time is running out for us to ensure we have the aviation infrastructure to service our growing tourism market.

Some of our best attractions are many hours drive from our capital cities and most tourists are on tight time frames these days.

Brae Restaurant in Birregurra attracts international guests, ­having just made it to the top 100 restaurants in the world.

The return drive from Melbourne is more than three hours, while a helicopter can get you there in just over half an hour from Melbourne Airport.

Last year, Amway came to Melbourne and we had international visitors fanning out across the country by helicopter visiting our regional attractions.

A modern helicopter that carries six passengers costs more than $5 million. The aviation industry needs certainty the infrastructure needed for helicopter transport will always be available.

If we get it right — along with improved roads, rail, cycling and ferry infrastructure — we will be set to ensure our cities retain their livability into the future as our population grows.

Clem Newton-Brown is a director of Whitemark Property and Planning, a consultant to the helicopter industry and a former Member of the Victorian Parliament.