MANDURAH city councillors are set to ground plans for company Rotorvation Helicopters to provide scenic joyflights for the second time this year, this time from the ocean marina.
The company were forced to ditch plans for flights from the Mary Street lagoon after an earlier four-week trial faced plenty of opposition, including from Mayor Marina Vergone.
Concerned ocean marina residents raised a number of issues with the latest proposal during question time at Tuesday night's council meeting, but none more so than the lack of consultation the city provided in regards to the proposal.
The City's director of sustainable development Tony Free admitted residents weren't notified of the plans prior to a few days ago while a strata manager at one of the apartment buildings just 100 metres from the proposed site was unaware of the plans until one of the residents raised their concern.
Councillor Shane Jones refused to support the council recommendation to provide preliminary approval for the flights to takeoff at the ocean marina and instead found support from his fellow councillors to refuse the proposal.
"I do not accept the recommendation on the grounds of location," Cr Jones said.
"I like the concept, just not too close to homes."
Councillor Peter Jackson agreed the location was the key to the proposal and said he would support an alternative location if one could be found.
Councillor Fred Riebeling went one step further, declaring he did not support "helicopter tourism in Mandurah".
"Even if we move it 15 to 20 kilometres south, I am sure those people will have the same concerns," he said.
"Mandurah people can do without the problems that will come with this particular project."
A final decision on the project will be made at the next full council meeting.
