Auckland richlisters Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams' newly built house on Rawene Avenue. Photo: RNZ/Maia Ingoe
Auckland councillors have decided not to vote on banning private helicopters in residential areas on the city's mainland, instead opting to go to the Environment Court for guidance.
Cheers erupted from the public gallery after councillors voted to halt private helicopters on Great Barrier and Waiheke.
Existing residential helipad permits, including the almost 70 on Waiheke, would not be outlawed.
But a vote on a blanket prohibition for the city that some were hoping for did not go ahead.
Instead, councillor Richard Hills put forward an amendment to councillor Mike Lee's motion passing the responsibility to the Environment Court.
A majority of councillors supported the amendment requesting council staff seek a determination through the Environment Court through the Resource Consent Appeal Process or a declaration from the court on the activity status of private helipads.
Lee expressed frustration that his motion for a blanket prohibition was not voted on calling it a "stitch-up" and an "ambush".
This in relation to the Auckland Unitary Plan. Councillors are yet to decide on the Hauraki Gulf Islands Section of the Auckland Council District Plan.
The meeting has been ongoing since 10am on Wednesday.
It comes after Waiheke locals said Auckland Council was ignoring the wants of the communities by allowing a proliferation of private helipads.
Last month, independent hearing commissioners appointed by the council approved rich-listers Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams's request for a private helipad at their Westmere property, despite overwhelming public opposition.
At the council's Policy and Planning Committee on Thursday morning, Kim Whitaker from Quiet Sky Waiheke was one of several speakers calling on the council to decline private helicopter resource consents in residential areas.
He said the constant flow of helicopters was incredibly frustrating and disruptive for residents.
"You can demonstrate that this committee is made up of people who believe in democratic principles and are not going to enable a small minority of people to literally fly roughshod over a majority."
He said there were nearly 70 private helipads on Waiheke.
RNZ contacted Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray's lawyer for comment ahead of the motion of notice and the appeal in the Environment Court.
While there was no response, the couple have said in the media that they were deeply disappointed with the legal challenge and the cost to public resources it will use.
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