Construction of James Bond-style helipad starts, despite public outcry

Sunday, 11 March 2018

The construction of the James Bond-style helipad, which will rise out of the boatshead, has started in Auckland, despite an outcry from residents.

Construction has started on a controversial helipad in one of Auckland's most sought after suburbs, despite opponents saying the fight over the build is not over.

Rich-lister Rod Duke, managing director and deputy chairman of Briscoe Group, has begun conversion of a boatshed attached to his Sentinel Beach property in Herne Bay.

Plans for the new structure included a James Bond-style roof, which would open to reveal the helicopter landing pad.

Residents in the upmarket suburb have been divided over the application process that green-lighted the project.

**READ MORE

Rod Duke, managing director of Briscoe Group.

* Auckland rich-lister Rod Duke fights council over Herne Bay helicopter use

* Neighbours win battle over Stanley Pt helipad

Rod Duke, Managing Director and Deputy Chairman of Briscoe Group is currently having his home built in Herne Bay, which will include a helipad from the site of the old boatshed on Sentinel Beach.

* Briscoes boss accepts helicopter restriction decision

* NZ retail giant Briscoe Group posts record sales across all stores**

Herne Bay Residents Association spokesman Dirk Hudig said as far as the group was concerned, the battle over the boatshed wasn't over.

'We've complained bitterly to the council because we think its a mistake, it's on public land that's used by people and it was a mistake granting consent,' he said.

'The people who actually use the area, the closest neighbours, are people who use the beach because they are right underneath it. They weren't consulted.'

Hudig believed the process should have been publicly notified.

The residents association was waiting on Auckland Council documents explaining the application process before they would accept the decision

'As far as we're concerned, this is not finished. There are other boatsheds in Herne Bay and we do not want this used as a precedent.'

The new structure will follow the same footprint as the old boatshed, extending across Sentinel beach and into the water.

Immediate neighbours of the Sarsfield St property weren't concerned by the development.

Juanita White, who lives in the neighbouring property with rich-lister Peter Francis, said they weren't concerned about the potential disruption from the helicopters.

'You see a lot of helicopters coming in around here. They come in and go out again, it's not like they hover about.'

The application for the helipad was processed on a limited notified basis, only needing written approvals from 73 and 79 Sarsfield St.

Duke is listed as part owner of the property at 79.

Once written approval was received, the council decided the application didn't need to be publicly notified.

However, the council restricted use of a helicopter to three flights a week, a decision initially appealed by Duke.

He dropped his appeal to the Environment Court in mid-December, 2017 and said that he now accepted the ruling of the council.

Duke bought the two adjoining clifftop properties on Sarsfield Rd in 2015. The existing buildings were pulled down to make way for the new development.

He said he had no comment in regards to the concerns expressed by the community.