Jerry Schwartz launches plans for Sydney CBD helipad to help tourism 'take off'
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Jerry Schwartz launches plans for Sydney CBD helipad to help tourism 'take off'
Australia’s largest private hotel investor, Dr Jerry Schwartz, is launching a proposal to establish a permanent helipad on the roof of his Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour to help revive Sydney’s economy and elevate the city’s business and tourism profile.
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SofitelDarling Harbour in Sydney.
A Darling Harbour helipad has been proposed by hotelier Dr Jerry Schwartz as a way to kickstart tourism in the wake of COVID-19.
Community and stakeholders are being consulted about the proposal, which would involve building a new structure on the roof of the 38-storey Sofitel hotel, with the addition of a lift and stairs to service the helipad.
The Sofitel is adjacent to the International Convention Centre (ICC) and is in the heart of the Darling Harbour business, tourism and convention precinct.
At a glance:
- Hotelier Dr Jerry Schwarz has proposed a helipad for Sydney's CBD.
- The proposal would involve building a new structure on the roof of the 38-storey Sofitel hotel, with the addition of a lift and stairs to service the helipad.
- Dr Schwartz said that as the proposed rooftop helipad would be classified as an ‘aircraft facility’ under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation (2000).
A heliport operated at Darling Harbour in the 1980s, but was removed to make way for the redevelopment of the former rail yards.
Since then, peak tourism and business bodies have called for the restoration of a CBD helipad to service the city’s high-yielding convention and business sectors.
The helipad would also be available for use by emergency services.
Currently, the only major public helipad services are located at Bankstown and Mascot, but heavily congested roads make them impracticable solutions for fast transfers to the Sydney CBD.
Dr Schwartz said the new structure could play a key part in reviving the city's economic fortunes.
Hotelier Dr Jerry Schwartz. Source: Sofitel
''Given the devastation to Sydney’s tourism and business economy as a result of Coronavirus, there is no better time to introduce the concept of a CBD helipad," he said.
“The world’s great cities – such as London, Paris and New York – have CBD helipads, and even Melbourne offers city helicopter transfers to the River Yarra helipad.
“Darling Harbour is designated as a dedicated tourism, convention and business precinct, which makes it’s the ideal location for a permanent helipad.
“We would envisage that world leaders could arrive at Sydney Airport and be flown direct to the Darling Harbour Helipad to make a keynote address at the International Convention Centre.
Dr Schwartz said that as the proposed rooftop helipad would be classified as an ‘aircraft facility’ under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation (2000), an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) would be prepared and lodged with the consent authority, the City of Sydney Council, for consideration.
The EIS process will include extensive consultation with local residents, businesses and other stakeholders, with a project team having already begun talking to relevant industry stakeholders about potential impacts, considerations and options for operating the helipad.
The proposed flight path will be finalised after consultation with appropriate regulatory and air traffic control authorities.
It is envisaged that the flight path will be developed based on the flight lanes of existing helicopter trips around the Sydney CBD and between Sydney Airport.
Dr Schwartz said investigations were underway to assess noise impact from the operations of the helipad including approach and landing, idling and take off.
“Helicopter flights around the Sydney CBD are frequent and many already use the flight path proposed for this helipad,” he said.
“The city has had a helipad in the past, so we are not proposing anything that is dramatically different, but its construction can play a significant role in reviving the city’s economy in the wake of the devastating impact of Coronavirus.
"We will be inviting public comment both in the lead-up to the preparation of the EIS, and the public will also be able to lodge comments once the EIS is placed on public exhibition by City of Sydney Council.”
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