Anger over wilderness helicopter landings on remote Noyhener Beach

UDATED: Bushwalker Dan Broun thought he was in wilderness at the end of the earth. Then a squadron of apparently unauthorised helicopters landed.

Helicopters on Noyhener Beach, Tasmania, February 2020.

THE Parks and Wildlife Service has launched an investigation into an apparently unauthorised mass helicopter landing on a beach in the state’s world heritage area.

Local bushwalker Dan Broun reported spotting the fleet of more than a dozen private helicopters land on remote Noyhener Beach, near Port Davey in the state’s South-West, on February 28.

Landing in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is strictly forbidden without a permit and fines of up to $3360 can apply per landing.

The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service did not answer directly questions about whether it had authorised the landings, but said it was investigating the incident.

“PWS has launched a compliance investigation into reports of the landing of several helicopters on a remote beach in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area,” a spokeswoman said.

“Penalties apply for the landing of an aircraft without an authority and limited commercial landings are only permitted in designated areas and zones under licence as prescribed by the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan 2016.

“Action will be taken if the PWS investigation reveals there has been a breach of the law.

“As this is now an active investigation, PWS will not be making any further comment at this time.”

A Queensland company Helibiz Australia conducted a “helicopter safari” around the state last week. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

Mr Broun said the arrival of the helicopters had destroyed his peaceful bushwalk.

“We counted 14 or 15 helicopters in total swing in from the north, bank sharply over bushland and land on that beautiful wild place we’d just spent two days exploring and respecting,” he wrote on the Tasmania Times website.

“After they got out of their machines, we surmised they were tourists of some sort.

“They were dressed inappropriately for the location, wandered about looking at each other’s shiny toys and then started leaving.”

Mr Broun said he had complained to Parks about the incident but said he had heard nothing back.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the mass landing of helicopters in a wilderness area was appalling.

“As soon as you have helicopters flying over into and landing in the wilderness, it impacts on the enjoyment of that wilderness by many other people. So we’ve never seen anything like this before,” she said.

“Where did they come from? What was their mission? Did they get approval? I think most Tasmanians would want to know the answers to those questions.”