PlanningAlerts

9 Comments

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1. I have a serious concern about the placement of the Drop Zone for the proposed parachute operation. It is in the area which is used for three Shellharbour based flying training operations and has been so for at least 20 years. I have no problem with the existing DZ at Stewart Park as it’s 10 miles north of the airport and is a designated Danger Area.

   I know that any proposed new parachuting operation needs the approval of the Australian Parachute Federation and my enquiries of APF have suggested they have not received any application to establish a new operation in the Shellharbour area. APF approval is conditional on having land owner permission so it requires both bodies to approve.

2. I too have serious concerns for aviation safety. The local airspace environment is already congested with flight training both from Shellharbour Airport and other nearby aerodromes. Further, there is already an established, high volume drop zone only 10nm (5min flight time) to the north and Nowra military restricted airspace to the south. If this was to go ahead we would have another significant risk factor right in the center of the busiest part of our flight training area. This would mean a student pilot could only reasonably expect to be able to fly in a straight line for at best 2min 30sec before coming into conflict with a airspace threat. There are a multitude of human performance and limitations, airspace structure and regulatory compliance factors that clearly demonstrate this not practical or smart planning by any stretch of the imagination. I am more than happy to elaborate further in the correct forum.

3. As a student pilot I am horrified that someone might suddenly drop through the area I train in.

4. I agree with Andrew's comment of 3 days ago as there is a parachute Drop Zone which already exists in Wollongong which is sufficient. The new proposed Drop Zone is in the area which is used for three Shellharbour based flying training operations and has been so for at least 20 years. I have no problem with the existing DZ at Stewart Park as it’s 10 miles north of the airport and is a designated Danger Area.

5. In the interests of safety I wish to submit my objections to the DA. As the operator of one of the local flight training organizations based out of Shellhabour aerodrome, who regularly utilises the designated flight training area of Shellhabour / Bass Point which is where the proposed DA is located. Not only does the DA proposal impede on the Pilot Training area it also imposes on the YSHL circuit area as well as infringing on the YSHL circling area and a number of the IFR approach / missed approach flight paths and does not comply with the minimum safe separation standards enforced by Airservices Australia.
   The clear lack of communications with the appropriate authorities (APF / CASA / ASA etc.) and local aerodrome operators is deeply concerning.
   Had a thorough safety analysis been conducted on this particular submission I am confident that the results would show the proposed location would not be a viable option based on the findings of the safety analysis alone.
   I strongly oppose the proposed DA.

6. I too, strongly oppose this proposed DA. Shellharbour South Beach and Pioneer Park are both areas that are regularly utilised by local schools, sporting clubs/teams and community members and would severely impact the accessibility of these spaces to the general public. Many local schools use this area to coordinate physical activity and play as do local sporting teams, for training and games. Removing or decreasing this space for public use will be detrimental to the Shellharbour community and the active areas it provides. Shellharbour is a growing community and providing sufficient spaces for people to be active is essential for the health and well-being of all. I am also concerned about the safety of the community, if this area was to become a “drop zone.” It is close to major roads and, in the case of Pioneer Park, a large intersection which is a source of distraction to drivers and pedestrians which may increase the number of road accidents. Furthermore, it’s proximity to the local skate park is not ideal.

   Limiting beach use for the sake of a drop zone is not ideal, particularly when Shellharbour beaches during summer are already quite crowded and we already have an existing drop zone in Wollongong.

   As a local community member, I strongly oppose the proposed DA.

7. South Shellharbour Beach is not a suitable site for parachute landing operations. It is located within the training area for YSHL, and this area has been a training area for over 30 years, not 20 years as mentioned elsewhere. The Danger Zone created around these areas essentially puts a 2 nautical mile diameter column of airspace up to the ATC step into Sydney at 7500' high, and in a training area this makes no sense at all. There has already been a parachute drop zone established in Stuart Park, adjacent to Northbeach, Wollongong at approximately 10 nm from the airfield, which works reasonably well, and can be accommodated as the area is far enough away from YSHL not to interfere with operations at the airfield, and it essentially deals with transitory aircraft, moving north and south along the coast while the Shellharbour/Bass Point area has transitory aircraft as well as high intensity advanced and ab initio training, aircraft endorsements, Biennial Flight Reviews and the like, which if compounded by an associated danger zone (apparently not mentioned in the DA submission) and possibly upto 8 canopies descending in that space on a regular basis creates an intolerable safety risk.

8. I am strongly for having this dropzone at Shellharbour, as a Shellharbour local my whole life this will be a great attraction for the local area. Taking in the views of Shellharbour, Marina, Lake Illawarra, Windang and The Farm Beachside Skydive is a great way to take in the local area. This will creates work in the local area. After the 2020 bushfires and COVID-19 this will increase tourism for the local area.

9. I am strongly for having this dropzone at Shellharbour, as a Shellharbour local my whole life this will be a great attraction for the local area. Taking in the views of Shellharbour, Marina, Lake Illawarra, Windang and The Farm Beachside Skydive is a great way to take in the local area. This will creates work in the local area. After the 2020 bushfires and COVID-19 this will increase tourism for the local area.

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